
Book^S-i 



THE LIFE 



JACOB G RUBER 



By W. P 



^TKI 



CKLAND. 



FIFTH THOUSAND. 




JfetD ijork: (h) 
PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 



200 MULBEEEY-STEEET. 
1860. 



M^./^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by 
CARLTON & PORTER, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
Southern District of Xew-York. 



fi; 



PREFACE 



"Jacob Geuber was a character, and copied 
after no raan," was a remark made hj one of 
his cotemporaries, an aged' minister of the Bal- 
timore Conference, and whoever reads the 
sketch of his life presented in the following 
pages will, we think, be fully convinced of the 
fact. He was himself always and everywhere, 
and he never lost his individuality as one of the 
most humorous, witty, and yet withal grave and 
earnest preachers of his day. We have aimed 
at giving a faithful portraiture of the man, pre- 
senting the salient points of his character as 
they were developed during a ministry of over 
half a century ; and as our materials were ample, 
apart from the recollections of numerous inci- 
dents connected with his life, furnished by per- 
sonal friends, the reader need not fear that we 



4 PKEFACE. 

have taxed our imagination to fill up the pic- 
ture. His whole life was full of incident. Pos- 
sessed as he w^as of such a striking individuahty 
of character, it may be safely affirmed, that 
amons: all the varieties found in the ministerial 
ranks he stands alone. There are not many 
Cartwrights or Finleys; there was but one 
Gruber. 

A considerable portion of the work is autobi- 
ographic, and will prove the more interesting on 
that account. The writer desires to tender his 
grateful acknowledgements to the Baltimore 
Historical Society for kindly giving him access 
to the Gruber papers, and for the facilities fur- 
nished by its estimable secretary for copying 
the same. He also desires to mention the kind- 
ness of numerous ministers in the Baltimore, 
Philadelphia, and other conferences, for the 
facts and incidents furnished by them, and 
which have proved of great value in the prepa- 
ration of the work. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Early Life — Parentage — Itinerant Preachers — Conversion — Simon Mil- 
ler — Singular Notions about lieligion — A learned Ministry — Valentine 
Cook — Wicked Wish of a German Woman — Grubei-'s Call to the Min- 
istry — Goes upon a Circuit — Predictions — Takes his Degrees among 
the Mountains —Hard Service and Poor Fare — Father Turck — Dumb 
Man's Speech — W. M'Lenahan — An old Preacher's aversion to Bi- 
ographies — Second Year's Field of Labor — Power in Prayer — A 
remarkable Case — A German Indian — Lorenzo and Peggy Dow — 
An Indian Exhorter — An amusing Incident — Carlisle Circuit — 
Early Methodist Literature — Winchester Circuit — Ministerial Dig- 
nity — Bishop Asbury on Solids and Fluids — Dyspeptic Preachers — 
Asbury's Cure for a Clerical Parvenu — Father Eichards Page 9 

CHAPTER n. 
Bishop George — Story of "Bishop George and the Young Preacher" 
unfounded — Young Americas — Rockingham — James Ward — 
Eevival — Strange Exercises — Gruber made Presiding Elder — 
Camp-meetings — Letter to Dr. Coke from a Presbyterian Minister 
— Water and Fire — Lost in the Mountains — Death at a Camp- 
meeting — Wonderful Exercises — Presbyterians shouting — A Young 
Divine seeking a Call — A Family Quarrel settled — An eccentric Local 
Preacher — A Backwoods College — Master Workman — Books of the 
Bar — Getting happy before the Time — Description of Solomon's 
Temple — Coughing up the Negroes — A Slave-trader — Strangers 
tested by Prayer — A good Master — Wicked Elders oo 

CHAPTER in. 
Camp-meetings on the Greenbrier District — Commendable Emulation 
among the Preachers — A jolly Wedding — A Slaveholding Preacher — 
Monongahela District — Statistics of Camp-meetings — Bokl Sinners — 
A young Man with a Pistol — Conversion of a Major — Camp-meetings 
aqiong the Presbyterians — An Infidel Club — Assault and Battery — 
A "strait and stiff" Professor of Religion— A Shout in tlie Wrong 
Place — A happy Man — A Termagant — Qujuterly Meetings — A Man 



6 CONTENTS. 

in Distress — A zealous Exliorter — Interesting Historical Item — Last 
Interview with Bishop Asbury — High Heads — Fashionable Dress — 
Letter to a General Conference Delegate — Opposition to Dogs — A 
Dandy Preacher — Eestoring Order at a Camp-meeting — Singular Ee- 
proof — Blowing out the Fire — Fine Style in Preaching — Preaching 
before the Professors and Students of Dickinson College — Opposition 
to Tobacco — Preachers reproved for Smoking Page 58 

CHAPTER ly. 

Preaching in Cabins — Appointed to Baltimore — Light-street and Sharp- 
street Churches — Quaker Opposition — Conversation with a Qiiaker 
— The Battle at North Point — Preaching to the Soldiers — Bombard- 
ment — Burial with the Honors of "War — Sermon on the Fourth of 
July — A Strange Procession — Dreams and Visions — Old Joe's Vis- 
ion of Jacob's Laddei" 93 

CHAPTER V. 

Opposition to a City Station — Appointed to Carlisle Circuit — Appointed 
to the District — Great Times in the Mountains — Model Professors — 
Albright and his People — An honest Dutchman judged — United 
Brethren Church — Opposition Line — Bishop Asbury's Wish — Gru- 
ber's Sermon at the Washington Camp-meeting — National Sins — 
Address to Masters and Slaves — Displeasure of Slaveholders — Letter 
from Eev. S. G. Eoszel — Warrant issued for his Arrest — Arrested 
at Quarterly Meeting — Gave Security for his Appearance at Court — 
Indicted by the Grand Juiy for inciting Slaves to Mutiny and Ee- 
bellion 123 

CHAPTER VL 

Bill of Indictment — Opening of the Case — Examination of Witnesses in 
behalf of the State — Opening Address on behalf of the Defendant 
by Eoger B. Tauey of Washington City — Examination of Witnesses 
for the Defense — Testimony of Eev. N. Snethen — Eev, J. Mason — 
Eev. J. Forrest — H. G. O'Neal — Mr. Long — Eev. L. Everhart — Eev. 
S. L. Davis — Jacob Bowlus — John Bowlus — Messrs. Brazier, Hunt, 
Bealer, Blake, Middlekauff, White, and Eeynolds — Eev. F. Stier— 
Eev. Stephen G. Eoszel — Eev. Abner Neal — Closing Argument for 
the Prosecution — Mr. Martin's Argument for the Defense — Argu- 
ment of ]\'ii\ Pigman, Counselor for the Defense — Mr. Taney concludes 
the Defense — Verdict of the Jury 142 

CHAPTER Vn. 
Eev. David Martin — Testimony of the Bible — TraflSc in Slaves — Gru- 
ber's Sermon at Camp-meeting — Different kinds of Heai'ers — Eepubli- 
can Slaveholders — History of Arrest and Trial — Eeflections — Eeview 



CONTENTS. T 

of the Trial — Lawyers — Inefficiency and Uncertainty of Law — Love 
of Money — Conference — Bishop lioberts — Exercise of Episcopal 
Functions — Bishop's Cabinet — The Way Appointments are ijow 
made — Eight of Choice — Frederic Circuit — Eest Week — Incident 
^ illustrating the Power of Bigotry Page 249 

CHAPTER VIIL 

Conference at Georgetown — " Haltering the Condition" — Marriage — 
Housekeeping — Dauphin Circuit — Preacher's Allowance — Traveling 
Expenses — Bishop Asbury's Opinion of City Stations — Frolicking 
Christians — Harvest Sermon— Conference in Philadelphia — Biahop 
Soule — Questions — Appointments — Something strange 268 

CHAPTER IX. 

Bristol Circuit — Germans and Quakers — Earl^^ Field of Labor- Strange 
Texts — A Wonderful Preacher — Pointless Sermon — Lancaster Cir- 
cuit — Pride, Whisky, and Tobacco — Camp-meeting — Sutlers — A 
Sheep and a Goat — Burlington Circuit — A good Beggar — A Singular 
Druggist — Chester Circuit — J. B. Finley and his Indian Chiefs — 
Presbyterians and Anxious Seats — A Baptist Experience — Philadel- 
phia — St. George's Church — Colleagues — Great Eeform in Baltimore 

— Mutual Eights — A fine House — Withdrawal of a Eeformer from 
the Church — Singular Certificate — Salem Circuit — Benjamin Abbott 

— Eum Drinking — Tobacco Chewing — Prosperity — Sermon at St. 
George's in 1830 279 

CHAPTER X. 

Waynesburgh Circuit — Dr. Sargent — Bishop M'Kendree — Eemoval to 
Baltimore — Opposition to Transfer — Port Deposit Circuit — William 
Hunter — Baltimore, Sharp-street and Asbury — Death of Mrs. Gru- 
ber — Colored People — Ebenezer, Washington City — A Hollander 
and a Priest — Questions — Title to Heaven — Extravagance in Wash- 
ington — Chaplain to Congress — Singular Sermon at a Camp-meet- 
ing — Carlisle Circuit — Opposition Lines — Feet Washing — Chris- 
tians — Miracle Workers — Camp-meeting on Huntingdon Circuit ^ — 
Amusing Discourse — The Crow's Nest stirred up — Card Playing — 
"A Particular and Confidential Friend" — Sharp-street and Asbury, 
Baltimore — "Old Wesley" — Colored Preacliers — Spurious Eeviv- 
als — Profession and Practice — Visit to Eachel Martin 303 

CHAPTER XI. 

Lewistown — Eemoval — Eachel Martin's House — Gruber outdone — An 
Irish Family — Wesley's Bed — An Episcopal Parson — Undeserved 
Compliment— A liberal Circuit — A new Thing under the Moon — 



8 CONTENTS. 

Mifflin Circuit — "A better Day coming" — Animal Excitement — 
Church Building — Preachers' Salaries — A Bargain proposed — Mean- 
ing of the Word " all" — Trough Creek Circuit — Bad State of Things 

— Keformers — Camp-meetings — A Slip — Tobacco Chewing and Feet 
Washing — The " holy Kiss " — Church sold Page 327 

CHAPTER XII. 

Warrior's Mark Circuit — Witches — An Ugly Old Woman — Consist- 
ency— A Witch tried — Shirleysburgh Circuit — A Friendly Family 

— Education of Daughters in Catholic Seminary — Anxiety of the 
Mother — Eeflections — Personal Interview — Admission — Purgatory 
— Location— Heaven — Priestcraft — Short Way with the Catholics — 
Conversation with a Priest— "Old Mother Church" — The True 
Church— St. Peter a sorry Foundation — Invincible Ignorance — A 
Mass Meeting — High Mass — Low Mass — The Original Languages — 
Horse and Mass in Latin • 339 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Hints to young Preachers — Treatment of— A Union Meeting-house — 
Prayer for a young Preacher — Clerical Vanity — Bombast — Eolation 
of an Incident — Preaching at Conference — A smart young Preacher 

— Improving the Style — " Going to Heaven by way of the Moon to 
see the Angels " — A Wonderful Man 350 

CHAPTER Xiy. 

Personal Kecollections — Peculiar Characteristics — Uncompromising — 
Education— Gruber's Style as a Preacher — The Door of Heaven 
shut and the Key lost — Dietetic Scruples — Theological Attainments 

— Deep Piety — Cider and Beer — Augmentum ad Mulierem — Fall- 
ing from Grace — Fire in the Head — Preaching to the Fishes — The 
Borrowed Shirt — Indian Squaws — Misquotations — Odd Reproof. 359 

CHAPTER XV. 
Tribute to the Memory of Gruber— Last Pound- Last 'Sermon — Dr. 
Bond — Right to a Jubilee — Letter to the Conference — Unintermitted 
Labor of Fifty Years — Work done — Great Sufferings — Attachment 
to the Sanctuary — Last Sabbath in the Church — Discourse — Relig- 
ious Enjoyment — Adjustment of Temporal Affairs — Bequests to 
Chartered Fund, Missionary Society, etc. — Rev. S. V. Blake — Clos- 
ing Scene — Last Sabbath on Earth, first Sabbath in Heaven — Por- 
traiture of his Character — In Memoriam 37C 



LIFE OP JACOB GRUBER. 



CHAPTER I. 

Early Life — Parentage — Itinerant Preachers — Conversion — Simon Mil- 
ler — Singular Notions about Religion — A learned Ministry— Valentine 
Cook — Wicked Wish of a German Woman — Gruber's Call to the Min- 
istry — Goes upon a Circuit — Predictions — Takes his Degrees among 
the Mountains —Hard Service and PoorFare — Father Turck— Dumb 
Man's Speech— W. M'Lenahan — An old Preacher's aversion to Bi- 
ographies—Second Year's Field of Labor — Power in Prayer — A 
remarkable Case — A German Indian — Lorenzo and Peggy Dow — 
An Indian Exhorter — An amusing Incident — Carlisle Circuit- 
Early Methodist Literature— Winchester Circuit — Ministerial Dig- 
nity—Bishop Asbury on Solids and Fluids — Dyspeptic Preachers — 
Bishop Asbury's Cure for a Clerical Parvenu — Father Eichards. 

At the beginning of the present century there ap- 
peared at the seat of the Philadelphia Conference a 
young man from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, wlio 
was 'impressed with the conviction that it was liis 
duty to preach. The homestead whicli he liad loft 
was the place of his birth, which occurred February 3, 
17T8. His parents, whose Christian names were 



10 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

John and Platina, were of German descent, and had 
been brought up in the faith of the great leader of 
the Reformation. The German Reformed Chm-ch 
was among the earliest organized in Pennsylvania, 
and for many years, in the particular section about 
which we are writing, that denomination had the 
exclusive control of the religio/us interests of the 
neighborhood. The time, however, came when this 
quiet was broken. Two itinerant Methodist preach- 
ers, who, it seems, without any special ecclesiastical 
authority, and without any regard whatever for tlie 
old established order of things, had divided up the 
country into circuits, and claiming to be successors 
of the apostles themselves, thought it no robbery to 
imitate them in traversing the country, and preaching 
the Gospel whenever they found an open door. The 
strangeness of their manner, and the wonderful earn- 
estness that characterized their preaching, attracted 
the attention of the people, particularly the younger 
portion, and the cabins and barns where they held 
forth were crowded. 

Young Gruber listened to these circuit preachers 
with amazement ; and though they were denounced 
by the staid and sober Reformers as wild and fanat- 
ical, he nevertheless felt stran^^ely drawn to their 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 11 

meetings. There was such a fervor in their prayers^ 
and sucli a zeal and earnestness in tlieir preaching, 
full of home, practical truths, and such a power in 
their songs, tliat he was entirely fascinated, and soon 
became convinced of the need of conversion. To 
obtain a thing so desirable, he made a solemn vow 
that he would pray seven times a day. His prayers 
for a change of heart were soon answered, and witli 
gladness he went with his parents to the place 
of meeting, and with them joined the Methodist 
Church. 

The names of the preachers who traveled the 
circuit at this time were Simon Miller and Isaac 
Kobinson. The former was of German descent. He 
was a man of genuine piety and deep experience, 
possessing talents as a preacher much above medi- 
ocrity. He could preach fluently both in English 
and German, and this latter qualification gave him 
an easy access to the German famihes. Constrained 
by the love of Christ to preach the Gospel, he left 
a home of affluence, and bidding adieu to ease and 
comfort, cheerfully endured the toils and hardships 
of an itinerant life. About this tim.e he was passing 
through a season of great mental depression. He 
labored under great discouragements and encoun- 



12 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

tered violent opposition. Though large crowds at- 
tended his ministry, he was not satisfied unless he 
could witness the fruits of his labors in seeing souls 
converted ; and the prospect of success being gloomy, 
he was much dispirited. When young Gruber, how- 
ever, was converted through his instrumentality he 
was greatly comforted, and said if he could be 
successful in getting one such soul converted it 
would be a good year's work, and amply compensate 
him for all his labor. The conversion of this prom- 
ising young man was not, however, the only fruit of 
his toil, as several others were converted and added 
to the Church, The revival aroused the prejudices 
of the old Church, and much opposition was mani- 
fested among the Germans. They knew nothing 
about immediate conversion, and their religion con- 
sisted mostly in a certain course of indoctrination and 
the observance of the rites of the Church. Tlieir 
ministers had taught them, that when they were bap- 
tized and had been confirmed, after having passed 
a regular course of catechetical instruction, and 
crowned the whole by the sacrament of the Lord's 
Supper, they were converted, and none could call in 
question the genuineness of their religion. Being 
thus initiated into the Church, they w^ere considered 



LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 13 

r.s lijiviiig virtually sworn to adhere to it tlirougli life. 
An elder of the German Eeformed Church once 
said to the mother of young Gruber, thai the children 
must be in religion the same precisely as their parents, 
even if the parents were heathen. 

That the reader may have a still more correct 
description of the religious condition of this particu- 
lar neighborhood, we give an account prepared by 
Gruber himself. He says : " The Methodist preach- 
ers came into the neighborhood, and held several 
meetings. As the result of their labors a revival 
commenced, and quite a number of persons were 
converted and professed a knowledge of sins for- 
given." Some of the members of the German min- 
ister's Church went to the old gentleman, expressing 
a desire to know something about this new doctrine. 
In reply to their inquiries about the knowledge of 
forgiveness, he said: "I have been a preacher more 
than twenty years and I do not know my sins for- 
given, and indeed it is impossible that any one 
should know it." It was not considered very won- 
derful by some that this preacher should be in dark- 
ness on that subject, as he frequently became intoxi- 
cated; and on a certain occasion, when the elders were 
unable to procure wine for the sacrament, he re- 



14 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

marked that whisky would answer jnst as well. 
One of the elders replied, "That would be ofiering 
strange fire„ on God's altar." An aged Vv'oman, a 
member of the German Church, at one of the revival 
meetings where some were praising God for having 
pardoned their sins, stood thoughtfully shaking her 
head and said, "It could not be, for if they had to 
answer a hundred and sixty questions, as she had 
before she got religion, they would learn that it 
could not be obtained in sucli quick time." 

Among the early itinerants who visited Pennsyl- 
vania about this time was the eccentric Valentine 
Cook. He was fresh from the halls of Cokesbury 
College, and perhaps the first native college-bred 
preacher that had appeared in the American Meth- 
odist Church". College-bred preachers in that day 
were held in the highest esteem, and a learned min- 
ister was looked up to with great veneration. When 
Cook made his appearance, and it was rum.ored that 
he was a graduate of a college, he attracted general 
attention. The German Reformed, like several other 
Churches we could name, entertained the idea that 
no man could possibly be qualified to preach who 
had not received a classical education, and hence 
vastly more respect was paid to Cook than to any of 



LIFE OF JACOB CtKUBEK. 15 

liis colleagues in the niinistiy. His learning, however, 
did not always avail to insure him respect, as the fol- 
lowing incident will show: After traveling a whole 
day without refreshment in a region' wdiere he was 
not known, he called a halt in the evening at tlie 
liouse of a German and asked if he could obtain feed 
for his horse and something for himself to eat. Being 
a tall, gangling, rough-looking specimen of humanity, 
the good woman, who was engaged in spinning, mis- 
took him not for a German but an Irishman. She 
was not at all favorably inlpressed with his appear- 
ance, but at her husband's request she procured a 
lunch for him and returned to her wheel, saying to 
her husband somewhat petulantly in German, she 
hoped the Irishman would choke in eating. After 
Cook had finished his repast he asked the privilege 
to pray, which being granted he knelt down and of- 
fered up a fervent petition in German. In his prayer 
he besought the Lord to bless the kind woman at the 
wheel and give her a new heart, that she might be 
better disposed toward strangers. Such a personal 
reflection was more than the good w^oman could stand, 
and she left her wheel and ran from the house over- 
whelmed wnth chagrin at her wicked wish. 

We mention these incidents for the purpose of 



16 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

giving the reader some idea of the times in which 
young Gruber commenced his religious career. 
Being a sprightly lad, he was soon called out to 
exercise his gifts in public prayer and exhortation. 
As usual in such cases in an early day, a storm of 
persecution arose not only from those who were 
outside of the Church and the family, but such as 
served to illustrate the declaration that "a man's 
foes shall be they of his own household." Strange 
as it was, the father, mother, brothers, and sisters, as 
if by one consent, rose up against the young exhorter, 
and he was obliged to leave home and seek more 
congenial quarters elsewhere. Some of the more 
zealous Methodists interpreted this differently from 
what young Jacob had imagined, and persuaded him 
that it was a clear indication of Providence that it 
was his duty to abandon everything for the exclusive 
work of the ministry. This interpretation of provi- 
dence was soon after verified. As he was on his 
way afoot and alone to the town of Lancaster he met 
one of the itinerants, who in a short conversation con- 
vinced him of the duty of entering upon the minis- 
try, and sent him to an adjoining circuit to fill a va- 
cancy. He accordingly procured a horse and went 
to the appointment. There was some diversity of 



1 



LIFE OF JACOH G RUBER. 17 

opinion about the propriety of this course, even 
among the preachers. He had a white horse, and 
one of them jocosely remarked : " Well, you have 
got on the pale horse; death and hell will follow you; 
only take care that you don't let them get before 
you." Another remarked that " he would kill him- 
self in six months;" and still another affirmed that, 
such was his zeal and physical exertion, " one montli 
would put him to rest." Isone of these things, 
liowever, seemed to move this young son of Yulcan, 
(for he was a blacksmith by trade,) and, as before 
stated, he found himself at the place of holding the 
conference, in the year 1800. 

He was not, however, without strange imaginings ; 
and as the conference embraced sickly regions in its 
territory, he knew not but he might be sent by the 
intrepid Asbury to some one of these localities, if for 
no other purpose than to try his faith and mettle. 
Many a young man has finished his course in one 
year's service ; but not so with Gruber. He had a 
powerful constitution, an iron frame capable of en- 
during an amount of hardship, labor, and fatigue 
which made him the wonder of all his ministerial 
companions. He had some intimations that he 
would be sent down to Delaware; but when the 



18 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

appointments were announced by the bishop his name 
was connected with Tioga circuit. "Instead, there- 
fore, of going down," as he remarked, "I had to go 
up — up rivers and mountains, and take my degrees 
among lakes, rivers, and Indians." 

Habited in a gray suit of Quakerish cut, and a 
drab broad-brimmed hat, he mounted his " white 
horse" and started for his circuit. Though young 
and inexperienced, being a little over twenty years 
of age, he buckled on the harness like a good soldier 
of the cross, and entered the field of itinerant war- 
fare right manfully. Without a colleague to whom 
he might look for advice, and from whom he might 
receive encouragement in the arduous and difficult 
work of the ministry, he showed himself worthy of 
the post assigned him, and heroically encountered 
the difiiculties and met the responsibilities of a large 
four weeks' circuit. The outlines of his field of labor 
are thus given by himself: "The lower part of the 
circuit was Wysock, then Towanda and Sugar Creek, 
thence up tlie Chemung some distance^ thence up the 
North Branch above the Great Bend." After travel- 
ing for six months, for which he received as salary 
five dollars and sixty-seven cents, his presiding elder 
relieved him by appointing another preacher in liis 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 19 

stead, and sending him, in company with Father 
Anthony Tm'ck, to Herkimer circuit, to which had 
been added the Mohawk circuit, embracing all the 
country from "Jericho to the head waters of the 
Mohawk Kiver." 

Father Turck was a native of New York, a de- 
scendant of one of the Dutch families that emigrated 
from Holland. He was received into the traveling 
connection in 1793, at the conference which was held 
in Philadelphia. He was a man of great zeal and 
energy, and was remarkably successful in his labors. 
He died March 13, 1803, in Freehold circuit, Mon- 
mouth county, 'New Jersey. 

Gruber gives the following account of his col- 
league: "Father Turck was a strict disciplinarian. 
The first time he met a class on the circuit it was his 
custom at the close to propose the following ques- 
tions, and insist upon definite answers: 'Are you all 
in peace with each other?' 'Have you entire con- 
fidence in each other!' If the answers were satis- 
factory he made the following note in the class-book : 
'Examined this class to-day; found all in peace and 
harmony ; told them to be watchful and faithful for 
the time to come, and not bring complaints against 
each other concerning any matters that occurred 



20 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

previously.' He thus kept his books posted every 
i<j;ind." 

While on this circuit Gruber fell in company with 
a young man who at times lost his speech. In enter- 
ing into conversation with him he learned that he 
was converted somewhere in the East, and that he 
was soon after impressed that it was his duty to 
preach ; but refusing to obey the call his speech was 
taken from him. This .young man during his speak- 
ing intervals could pray with remarkable fluency 
and power, and his exhortations were exceedingly 
appropriate and pointed. When his speech failed 
him he would call for a slate and write his thoughts, 
at the same time giving the reason why his speech 
was lost. At one time he attended the j)reaching of 
a Universalist, and after the preacher was through he 
rose to reply, and delivered one of tlie strongest and 
most eloquent arguments against the doctrine. After 
the meeting he was beset by several who wished, to 
controvert certain points with him ; but his speech 
was gone, and they could not get a word in reply. 
In the house where he boarded there was a young 
man who taught school in the neighborhood, and 
annoyed the family very much b}^ parading his learn- 
ing and talking about nouns and pronouns, verbs 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 21 

and logic, occasionally descanting npon physics. 
The dumb man took the pedagogue one day in hand, 
and administered a severe reproof in the form of a 
lecture. The schoolmaster felt incensed, and rising 
from his seat paced the room; but the dumb man 
followed him, increasing in severity. Finding no 
quarters he left the house, but his persecutor was at 
his heels, using his speech to the greatest advantage 
while it lasted. The schoolmaster started upon a 
run, but he could not outstrip his enemy, who 
shouted in his ears : " Lord, grant that his logic may 
lodge in his heart, and that his physics may work all 
sin out of his soul !" 

Gruber's presiding elder, William M'Lenahan, 
was a warm-hearted Irishman, who came to this 
country in his youth. In 1787 he entered the itin- 
erancy, and preached with power and unction. 
Great success attended his labors, which covered 
over a period of forty-five years, and to him, with 
his early colleagues in the ministry, the Church is 
indebted for the planting of Methodism on what was 
then known as the frontiers. It is a standing won- 
der that the laborious, self-denying pioneers of 
Methodism in this country have been ignored, both 
in general and ecclesiastical history, with but few 



22 . LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

exceptions, and all we can find of their lives and 
labors, some of which embraced half a century, is 
restricted to a few lines in the General Minutes of the 
Conferences of the Methodist Church. This may be 
accounted for, perhaps, so far as the Methodist Church 
is concerned, in the example of Wesley, who gave but 
the most meager accounts of his preachers, a course 
which was faithfully followed by Asbury and his co- 
adjutors in- the early history of the Church in this 
country. So pow^erfuUy had this sentiment impressed 
itself upon the minds of the early Methodist preach- 
ers, that an old pioneer, just now looking over our 
shoulder and asking Tvhat w^e were doing, on being 
informed that we were writing a life of Gruber, said : 
"I charge you not to say a word about me when 
1 am dead. Let the simple answer be appended to 
the question, ' Who have died this year V my humble 
name ; and," added he with emphasis, " I am in 
earnest about this matter, and you will find my re- 
quest recorded on the journals of the conference." 

This we regard as an extreme view of the question 
of biography. Much that has been written, w^e 
acknowledge, has been of a highly fulsome character, 
and a great deal of varnish has been expended to 
make doubtful characters shine ; but that is no 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 23 

reason why legitimate biograpliy should not hold a 
most important place in the literature of the Church 
and the world. History teaches by examples, and 
without the biographies of those who have been 
identified with that history we shall be without the 
examples, and fail of the instruction imparted there- 
by. Our old friend, who has such a horror of biog- 
raphies, is doubtless laboring under the impression 
that they must be so thoroughly eulogistic as to 
cover over all defects, and present, in the most highly 
colored and favorable light, everything pertaining to 
private and public life ; that nothing, not even the 
slightest error in judgment or improper movement in 
action can be noticed. So have we not learned what 
constitutes a true biography. 

The second year of our young itinerant's ministry 
was spent on the Oneida and Cayuga circuit, em- 
bracing a large field in "Western Kew York. Yast 
tracts of wilderness interposed between the appoint- 
ments, and new hardships were to be endured. 
J^othing daunted, he scaled tlie mountains, penetrat- 
ed the woods, and sought the cabins nestled among 
them, that he might preach the Gospel to their 
inmates. Here he labored with the most unremitting 
zeal and diligence. Through his fervent appeals 



24 LITE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

many were awakened and converted, and accessions 
were made to the several appointments in the widely 
extended circuit. 

The Rev. Samuel Howe, an old itinerant, relates 
an incident illustrative of Gruber's power in prayer. 
At a quarterly meeting held in a barn in this part 
of the country, after a most impressive and power- 
ful sermon from the presiding elder, M'Lenahan, 
Gruber engaged in prayer. " It seemed," says 
Father Howe, " to resemble the day of Pentecost ; 
the barn was shaken, and the people simultaneously 
sprang to their feet, while shouts of joy and cries for 
mercy filled the place. Many fell to the floor, and 
others were filled with fear and fled in the greatest 
consternation." 

In the year 1802 he was sent to Dauphin circuit 
alone, and traveled it, preaching from appointment 
to appointment, for about three months, at the close 
of which time he was removed to Huntington cir- 
cuit. His field embraced Woodcock Yalley, Bloody 
Run, Bedford, Deming's Creek, Morrison's Cove, 
Frankstown, Warrior's Mark, Half Moon, Stone 
Yalley, Manor Hill, Warrior's Ridge, and Hunting- 
ton. In writing about this circuit he says: "We 
had a wilderness to clear and cultivate. The hand- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 25 

ful of corn among the mountains grew, the Lord 
gave the increase, and we gave him the glory in the 
public congregations, and frequently in loud shouts 
in family worship. Truly we had times of refresh- 
ing from the presence of the Lord. Many of the 
converts have gone to heaven. I hope to overtake 
tliem, and be forever with the Lord in glory. '^ The 
extent of his field of labor may be learned from his 
statement, that in two years he traveled from Tioga 
Point to the head of the North Branch, then to the 
head of the Mohawk River from Jericho to Coopers- 
town, thence to Utica and Rome, and fi-om thence 
to Paris, Geneva, and Jerusalem, including all inter- 
mediate points. 

At a certain place on this circuit there lived a 
man who had been in great distress of mind, border- 
ing on despair. He wept much and prayed almost 
constantly, but found no relief. He was visited by 
Gruber, who conversed with him for a considerable 
length of time, quoting such passages of the Bible as 
were applicable to his case. He could not, how- 
ever, be pei-suaded that any promise was for him, as 
he believed his day of mercy and hope were gone 
forever. The following colloquy then ensued between 
Gruber and the despairing man : 



26 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

" What will become of you ?" 

" I shall be lost." 

" Where will you go ?" 

"To hell." 

" But if you go there you will have it all to your- 
self." 

" What do you mean ?" 

"I mean just what I say : if you go to hell weep- 
ing and praying you will scare all the devils away, 
for I never heard or read of one going to hell weep- 
ing and praying." 

At this a smile came over his face like sunshine 
on a cloud ; his despair was gone, and hope full and 
joyous sprung up in his soul. 

On the banks of the Mohawk River, a few miles 
below Fort Schuyler, there lived a pious old German. 
He took up his residence at that place before the 
Mohawk Indians left that region. His contact with 
the Indians, and the intimate relations which sprung 
up between them, enabled him to become acquainted 
with their habits and language. In his conversation 
he would mix up German, English, and Indian. 
Gruber paid him a visit, and as the old man had 
heard of him he was highly pleased to see him, and 
invited him to accompany him to a German settle- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 2T 

ment a few miles down the river. An appointment 
was made, and a large congregation collected in the 
barn. Gruber preached to them in German, and his 
discourse was well received. This old German 
Indian was deeply pious; he would begin to pray 
before day-break, and continue until he had dressed 
and left his room, and in so loud a tone as to be 
heard all over the house. He had a son-in-law who 
drank too freely sometimes. One day, while they 
were together in the woods, the old man said : 

" Jimmy, I want to ax you a question, answer me. 
Which you love best, rum or your soul?" 

" I love my soul best," 

" Jimmy, you be a liar before God and man." 

A family resided not far from Fort Stanwix which 
Gruber thus describes : *' There was a happy family 
composed of three persons, one man and two women. 
Some compared them to Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. 
The man was the husband of Hannah, and Peggy 
was her sister. They lived in great peace and hap- 
piness. At length there came along Lorenzo Dow, 
who took away Peggy and broke up the household, 
as the husband and Hannah started out with the wan- 
dering preacher and never after had a home. Tlie 
wife came to disgrace, and Peggy published it to tho 



28 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

world, without, however, stating, as she should have 
done, that the cosmopolite Dow had lured them from 
their happy home. The last account I had of Dow 
was that he was buried by the Odd Fellows, a name 
which suited him admirably from the crown of his 
head to the sole of his foot, including his long beard. 
Peace to his dust, and may we never see his like 
again." 

An Indian exhorter lived in this neighborhood, 
who frequently addressed large congregations. On 
one occasion he remarked that some white men had 
said they did not want to go to heaven if Indians 
went there. " Very well," said the Indian, " what 
will they do? If they are not willing to go to 
heaven with religious Indians, they must go to 
hell with drunken Indians; they may have their 
choige." 

In 1804 Gruber was sent to Carlisle circuit, which 
was included in the Baltimore Conference. This 
was also a large and laborious field. Henry Boehm, 
like himself of German descent, was his colleague 
Boehm subsequently became the traveling com- 
panion of Bishop Asbury, a successful and popular 
preacher. He is still living in the enjoyment of a 
green old age, and waiting for his release from earth 



LIFE OF JACOB GIIUBER. 29 

to join the pioneer band who have '' crossed the 
flood" and entered the promised inheritance. Like 
the Methodist preachers of olden time, Gruber car- 
ried a lot of books in his saddle-bags for sale among 
the people. The Methodist catalogue was not very 
extensive in those days, but what books were pub- 
lished were fall of practical piety. In addition to 
the Hymn Book and Discipline, with which the 
preachers were always supplied, and which they 
were required to circulate among the people, were, 
Wesley's Sermons and Notes, "The Experience of 
Preachers," '' Life of Hester Ann Rogers," " Thomas 
a Kempis," " Saint's Everlasting Rest," and portions 
of '• Fletcher's Checks to Antinomianisra." A taste 
for reading was thus cultivated among the people, 
which has proved of immense service in raising the 
standard of education and scriptural piety. Such 
has been the result of this policy of Wesley in 
requiring the preachers to sell books, that we doubt 
if there is a denomination in the world which buys 
and reads more books than the Methodists. Certain 
it is that it has outstripped every other denomination 
in the business of publishing religious books, and its 
immense Book Concern is the next in size and 
resources to the largest in the United States. In the 



30 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

days of Gruber Methodist literature was in its 
infancy, and with the exception of the " Arminian 
Magazine," published by Wesley in London, there 
were no Church periodicals. What few works the 
Methodists had of a denominational character were 
well read, and they thus became thoroughly in- 
doctrinated. Next to the Bible, the Discipline, 
and Wesley's Tracts which were bound up with it, 
furnished the armory from whence the itinerants 
of those days drew the weapons of their spiritual 
warfare. 

At the next Conference Gruber was sent to the 
Winchester circuit, having for a colleague a young 
man by the name of Richards. This young itinerant 
in a great measure destroyed his usefulness by get- 
ting the crotchet in his head that, to maintain min- 
isterial dignity, he must put on some extra airs of 
reserve and sanctity, l^ot being afflicted with the 
dyspepsia, which invariably gives a somber hue to 
the countenance, it became necessary for him to 
assume a solemn appearance. A "sad countenance," 
as our old English version has it, in the description 
of the Pharisees in the days of the Saviour, has never 
been regarded as the true index of spirituality. One 
of the old preachers who had outlived his day, and was 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 31 

constantly playing upon the thousand-stringed harp, 
" Ye are fallen ! yc are fallen !" remarked on a cer- 
tain occasion that he wished some of the old preachers 
were as solemn as that young man. Bishop Asbury, 
who was present when this remark was made, 
smilingly said : " Do you make any allowance for 
solids and fluids ?" When the dyspepsia- became a 
fashionable complaint among preachers such an 
allowance was made. We recollect a reply once 
made by a light-hearted, joyous, talented young 
preacher to a pious lady, who reprovingly said to 
him : *' I wish you would be as serious as Brother C." 
*' Ah !" said the young brother, laughingly, " when I 
get the dyspepsia as bad as he has it I will, no 
doubt, be equally serious." 

Religion is the sunlight of the soul, and irradiates 
with brightness and beauty the medium through 
which it shines. A "sad countenance" indicates a 
sad heart; but as religion is "joy unspeakable and 
fullness of glor}^," all gloom and despondency are 
driven away by the brightness of its coming. 

Gruber relates the following in one of his letters 
respecting his colleague : " This young man preached 
very nice, well-connected sermons, fifteen or twenty 
minutes long. lie was very studious. Take the fol- 



32 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

lowing for an example : A gentleman asked him to 
stop and dine with him, his house being directly on 
the route to the preacher's afternoon appointment. 
When tliey arrived at the house he was shown into a 
room, and requested to be seated until hisliost should 
take his horse and feed him. What was the surprise 
of the hospitable friend when, on returning to the 
house, he met the young preacher coming out with 
his saddle-bags on his arm. In a somewhat excited 
manner he asked, ' Where is my horse V 

" ' Why, Mr. Eichards, you must not go away ; I 
expect you to stay for dinner.' 

" He replied, ' I cannot stay here. There are young 
persons in another room laughing and talking, who 
interrupt me in my studies. Did you not know I was 
a minister ? Why would you suffer me to be insulted 
in this way V 

" All tlie persuasion of the gentleman to have him 
remain, added to the assurance that he would quiet 
the young people in the next room, w^as of no avail ; 
and liaving obtained his horse, he mounted him and 
was away.' 

This "studious" young man may serve as a type 
of many young ministers we have known. N'ot ex- 
actly as it relates to studious habits, however, nor 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 33 

yet to wonderful seriousness, were tlie}^ like Gruber's 
colleague; but in the ridiculous assumption of supe- 
riority, and the supercilious airs which they put on. 

Bishop Asbury sent this young divine to the lake 
country, and from thence as a missionary to Canada. 
Gruber's account of him is that, while in Canada, he 
left his circuit and went over to his grandmother, 
(meaning the Roman Catholic Church,) and that the 
last intelligence he had from him was that he had 
got among the nuns, w^ith the sobriquet Father Rich- 
ards, and had become quite fat and jolly, with plenty 
of leisure to pursue his studies. Traveling a circuit 
aifords a fine opportunity for becoming acquainted 
with human nature in all its phases, and Gruber's 
acuteness and hard common sense enabled him to 
profit by all that he saw and heard. 

One of his early colleagues, who was acquainted 
with young Richards, being in Canada many years 
after, paid a visit to the reverend father at his resi- 
dence adjoining a Catholic seminary, near Montreal. 
On his way he met a lady of the establishment who 
conducted him to his presence. They found him sit- 
ting by a window enjoying the cooling breeze on a 
summer morning. His face was fat and rubicund, 
and he seemed as one wlio enjoyed the good things 



34 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

of this life. Before the visitor had time to speak to 
the priest, he rose abruptly and left the window. 
Fully expecting that he had been recognized, and 
would be met at the door and welcomed, he ad- 
vanced, but it opened not. After waiting a while he 
knocked. Soon a servant appeared, and on being 
asked if Father Kichards was in he replied : " I 
believe he is not, sir ; but I will see." After a short 
absence he returned, and said, " Father Richards is 
not in." Unwilling to be thus disconcerted, he re- 
plied : " But I know he is in, for I saw him at the 
window but a few minutes since." "I will look 
again, sir," he said, and went away. After remain- 
ing a longer time he returned, and declared positively 
that he was not at home. Thus ended the visit. 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 35 



CHAPTER II. 

Bishop George — Story of "Bishop George and the Young Preacher " 
unfounded — Young Americas— Eockingham— James Ward — 
Eevival — Strange Exercises — Gruber made Presiding Elder— 
Camp-meetings— Letter to Dr. Coke from a Presbyterian Minister 
— Water and Fire — Lost in the Mountains — Death at a Camp- 
meetmg — Wonderful Exercises— Presbyterians shouting — A Young 
Divine seeking a Call — A Family Quarrel settled — An eccenlric Local 
Preacher— A Backwoods College — Master Workman - Books of the 
Bar — Getting happy before the Time— Description of Solomon's 
Temple — Cougliing up the Negroes — A Slave-trader— Strangers 
tested by Prayer — A good Master — Wicked Elders. 

In 1806 he was sent to Winchester circuit in com- 
pany with a young man who, it seems, followed in 
the wake of his last colleague and withdrew from the 
Church. His presiding elder this year was Enoch 
George, who had been fifteen years in the traveling 
connection. He was subsequently elected bishop 
and was remarkable for his deep piety and great 
simplicity of manners. As a preacher his discourses 
abounded with pathos and power, and he was emi- 
nently successful. Many incidents are related of this 
good man. A story admirably related, which went 
the rounds of the press many years ago, entitled 



36 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

"Bishop George and the Young Preacher," was 
ascertained to be wholly apocryphal. It had no 
foundation in fact, and yet was so full of life and so 
natural in its features that it could easily be taken 
for a veritable narrative. 

Gruber enjoyed the quarterly visitations of the 
pious and unassuming George, and sat at his feet 
with the docility of a child, to receive the lessons of 
wisdom which his elder was ever ready to impart. 
In this fast age the opinions of the fathers are of but 
little worth, and young men with a smattering of 
learning, and vast resources of newspaper lore, are 
entirely too knowing to seek instruction from their 
elders. The young Americas of Gruber's day, who 
regarded age as a synonym of fogyism, and opposed 
to all progress, constituted an exception to that class. 
ISTow, however, the exception is on the other side. 
The good Bishop George served the Church for a 
period of thirty-eight years, and effectually impressed 
his mind upon many of the young preachers of that 
day. He closed his labors with his life in Staunton, 
Yirginia, August 23, 1828. His death furnished a 
remarkable evidence of the power of religion. To 
his brethren in the ministry who visited him he 
said, " Rejoice with me, I am going to glory. I have 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 37 

been many years trying to lead others to glory, and 
now thither I am going." Such a living example 
and such a triumphant death were a legacy to the 
Church beyond all price. 

Having finished his year on Winchester circuit, Gru- 
ber was appointed next to Rockingham. This circuit 
was included in the Greenbrier district, which was 
presided over by James Ward, a man of great zeal. 
The meetings which were held at the difi'erent ap- 
pointments were represented by Gruber as " good 
and great." In describing his presiding elder he 
remarked : " Some said he always preached till he 
got some to cry or shout." The public mind had 
been stirred during his time by the great revival at 
the Cane Ridge camp-meetings in Kentucky, and 
which now, after the lapse of more than half a cen- 
tury, are reproduced in the revivals at Bally mena, 
Ireland. The people attended meetings in great 
numbers, and wonderful results had been witnessed. 
Anxious that the same excitement might be expe- 
rienced by the people, the elder would collect at 
his quarterly appointments the most zealous exhort- 
ers, preachers, and laymen from difi'erent parts of 
the district. Gruber had never witnessed the strange 
exercises attending the Kentucky camp-meetings, 



38 LITE OF JACOB GRUBEPw. 

and when the opportunity presented itself, which it 
did at several of the appointments, he was greatly 
surprised. He thus describes the "jerks," as they 
were called : " Different classes of persons had them, 
men and women. Some were happy under this 
strange excitement, while others were miserable. 
Their heads would shake in quick motion backward 
and forward till the person would fall. Some would 
sit down, others would stand it out though agitated 
and all in commotion from head to foot. Some of 
the preachers spoke against this exercise as they did 
against shouting, and hurt the feelings of sincere 
persons without doing good to any." The year on 
this circuit was closed by a great camp-meeting 
which was attended by thousands, and resulted in 
the conversion of a large number. 

A Presbyterian minister in Kentucky, writing 
to Dr. Coke in 1802, says of these meetings, and the 
wonderful conversions attending them : " This glori- 
ous work has disseminated a principle of love 
through the hearts of all Christians. Bigotry and 
prejudice have received a death-wound ; names, 
parties, and divisions seem to subside totally. Pres- 
byterians and Methodists love one another, they 
preach together, and commune together, and mu- 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 39 

tuallj rejoice to see the work of the Lord go for- 
ward." "We might here remark that this catholicity 
of feeling constitutes one of the strongest evidences 
of the genuineness of the work. The prayer of 
Christ that "all might be one" is thus fulfilled. 

He had now been six years in the work of the 
ministry, and had exhibited such good proof of his 
fidelity and success that the good Bishop Asbury 
deemed him qualified for the more responsible post 
of presiding elder, and accordingly, in the year 1807 
he was appointed to the presidency of Greenbrier 
district. It embraced a wild region of country in 
Yirginia, said to be the roughest in the bounds of the 
Baltimore Conference. It extended into North Caro- 
lina, taking in its sweep the wildest portions of the 
Cumberland Mountains and Tygart's Yalley. To 
use his own language, he had "hard work, rough 
fare, and bad roads ;" but by way of offset to 
these disadvantages he had " great meetings." 
Toward the close of the year camp-meetings were 
held on every circuit, of which there were eight. At 
these camp-meetings hundreds were converted. In- 
deed, a camp-meeting in those days, without numer- 
ous conversions and large accessions to the Church, 
would have been a much greater wonder than to 



40 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

witness such a revival at our fashionable camp-meet- 
ing picnics of the present day. 

At that time even a quarterly meeting was con- 
sidered dull and profitless indeed, unless souls were 
converted and added to the Church, and a revival 
inaugurated for the coming quarter. In describing 
these camp-meetings Gruber said : "Some complained 
about too much wildfire, and called the preachers the 
fire company ; but we wanted fire that would warm 
and melt, not tame fire, fox fire, and the like. Some 
say ice is water fallen asleep. Some cry. Water, water, 
till all the fire is put out and nothing but ice remains. 
Then it is a cold time, a winter state truly." During 
the three years on this district he experienced many 
hardships, enough to try the faith of the most stern 
and sturdy in the itinerant ranks. In describing his 
labors he says: "My travels among the Pendleton 
and Greenbrier Mountains were hard and severe. 
One very cold night in the winter I took a path for 
a near way to my stopping place, but got out of my 
course, wandered about among the hills and mount- 
ains, and went to the top of one of them to see clear- 
ings, or hear dogs bark, cfr roosters crow, but all in 
vain. After midnight the moon arose ; I could then 
see my track. The snow was knee deep, and I went 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 41 

back till I got into the right course, and reached my 
lodgings between four and live o'clock in the morning. 
The family was alarmed, and said I was late, but I 
called it early. After lying down and sleeping a 
little I arose and, getting breakfast, departed on my 
day's journey, filling two appointments." 

At the end of his first year on the district he had 
a line of appointments reaching to Baltimore. On 
his route he passed through Tygart's Yalley to the 
head of the Greenbrier Kiver, a wild, mountainous 
region, traversed by a dim path. JSTot a single cabin 
was to be found in a distance of twenty miles. He 
struck for the mountain on the path about ten o'clock, 
but had not proceeded many miles until he found it 
covered up knee-deep in snow, and. not a single track 
to be seen. He picked his way, however, as best he 
could, and traveled on. During the day it began to 
rain, which rendered his journey still more uncomfort- 
able. At length he reached Cheat Kiver, and found it 
considerably swollen, with ice in the middle. When he 
reached the ice it was with difiiculty he dismounted, 
and then making his horse leap upon it, he again 
mounted. The ice did not break, and he was enabled 
to reach the other shore with little difficulty. He then 
proceeded on his journey, and traveled on in the woods 



42 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

until niglit overtook liim, when he lost his path and 
became entangled in the forest. The rain, which had 
been pouring down, now changed into snow, and the 
wind blew furiously. Besides all this, it was becoming 
increasingly cold. What to do he knew not, except 
to pray. The night was spent sitting on his horse. 
Above the roar of the storm he could hear the scream 
of the panther and the howl of the wolf. It was a 
dreadful night, but morning came, and with it he 
found the path, and reached the Greenbrier Kiver 
about ten o'clock, which he crossed, and in a short 
time found himself at the house of a friend. The 
family were alarmed at seeing him, and expressed 
their surprise at his undertaking so perilous a journey, 
as no person had been known to pass throogh that 
portion of the wilderness before in winter. ISTeither 
himself or horse had tasted a morsel of food since the}^ 
started, but they were both inured to hardships and 
suffered but little in consequence. After obtaining 
some refreshment he started to his appointment, 
thankful for his escape from the dangers through 
which he had passed. 

In his letters he relates some wonderful incidents 
occurring at meetings. Among the most remarkable 
he states that at one of his meetings a lady " was so 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 43 

powerfully blessed tlicat the vessel broke, and the ran- 
somed spirit went home to glory. She shouted with 
her expiring breath, and left her friends below." 
Another lady who was in declining health desired to 
be taken to the camp ground that she might go to 
heaven from that spot. She was accordingly taken, 
and " in transports of joy she went up to join the song 
of the redeemed." 

Other strange things occurred at his camp-meetings 
which he describes. The exercises assumed a differ- 
ent aspect at different times and places. Strange and 
unaccountable as were the jerks, they were, if any- 
thing, outdone in the running, jumping, whirling, 
dancing, pointing, and crying exercises. When he 
was called upon to explain these things, he replied, 
" I can't explain what I don't understand. If those 
who have them cannot understand them how is it 
possible for me to unravel the mystery. I am not 
under obligations to analyze or methodize these exer- 
cises, having no tools for that work," 

At one of the Greenbrier camp-meetings there were 
several Presbyterian families encamped on the ground. 
In one of their tents there was much praying and 
shouting. This surprised everybody. The idea of 
staid and sober Presbyterians encamping with the 



44 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

Methodists was novel enough of itself; but that they 
should pray, and sing, and shout like the Methodists 
was incomprehensible. Gruber said to them : " Why, 
my dear friends, in this place your people would 
not own you ; you make too much noise, and you 
know your method is to ' have everything done 
decently and in order.' You are certainly out of 
order now." He then asked them who their preacher 
w^as. To this they replied : " We have no preacher ; 
we have prayer-meetings, and meet with the Meth- 
odists. We have occasional supplies, but no stated 
preaching. A young minister once came among us 
hunting a call. He read a sermon, and had so much 
the appearance of a d'andy that we took the liberty to 
question him in relation to his call to the ministry. 
One of our elders asked him if he had ever been con- 
verted. At this he became quite excited, and replied 
that he had come to preach to them, and not to be 
examined by them. The elder said to him : ' If you 
have not been converted we do not wish you to 
preach to us.' " The result was that the young divine 
left without a call from that people. 

At this meeting an old Presbyterian clergy- 
man was called upon to preach. After he had 
got fully under way and warmed up the congre- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 45 

gation caught the excitement, and several fell to 
the ground. It was not long before the vener- 
able man himself measured his full length in the 
stand. This created great surprise among his 
people. When he returned to his congregation 
after the camp-meeting his preaching v^as so dif- 
ferent, so full of life, animation, and power, that 
the elders of the Church became alarmed, and in- 
quired of him if he had not become a New Light. 
"JSTo," said he very meekly; "it is the same old 
light, but newly snuffed." 

While Gruber was on the Greenbrier district many 
interesting incidents occurred which are worthy of 
note. A difficulty, unhappily, originated in Kocking- 
ham between two leading members of the Church ; 
one of them was an old member, and the other a 
class-leader. They stood related to each other as 
father-in-law and son-in-law. They had become so 
estranged that, though they often met at church and 
elsewhere, they were not on speaking terms. At a 
camp-meeting on the circuit, where each of them had 
a tent, it occurred to Gruber that a reconciliation 
might be effected, and he laid his plans accordingly. 
As the meeting progressed, and the tide of religious 
feeling rose among the membership, he noticed that 



46 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

notwithstanding the alienation of feeling existing be- 
tween the belligerent brethren they were both in a 
pleasant frame of mind. During the interval of the 
public services Gruber went to the tent of the son- 
in-law and requested him and his wife to take a walk. 

" Where do you wish us to go ?" said the class- 
leader. 

" To the tent of your wife's father," responded 
Gruber. 

" We beg you to excuse us, Brother Gruber." 

" !No," said the elder ; '^ no excuse, you must go 
with me." 

" If we must go, then," said the leader, " we will 
meet him in the woods, outside of the tents." 

" Yery well. Tou and your wife take a westerly 
direction a few minutes from this time." 

He then went to the old folks and requested them 
to take a walk with him, to which they readily 
assented, and it was but a short time before they in- 
tercepted the path of their children. As they met 
Gruber introduced them. In an instant their feel- 
ings were changed; they shook hands, doubly em- 
braced each other, and wept. The scene was too 
much for the sturdy German's nerves, and he wept 
with them. In describing this interview afterward, he 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 4Y 

said : *' Thus the snare of the devil was broken ; the)^ 
talked and wept together, after a silence and hardness 
of months, like new friends on their way to heaven. 
They lived ever after in love, and died in the peace 
and hope of the Gospel." 

The former presiding elder. Ward, had formed a 
strong attachment for a local preacher, who was 
pious and talented, but considerably eccentric in his 
manners. Ward frequently took him to camp-meet- 
ings, as he was very active and zealous, and withal 
successful in getting sinners converted. On Sunday 
morning, which is considered the great occasion at 
camp-meeting, and at which time the most talented 
and popular ministers hold forth, to the astonishment 
of everybody this local preacher was requested by 
the elder to preach. With all his peculiarity of man- 
ner the local preacher was not destitute of modesty, 
nor unable to appreciate the fitness of things. Ho 
knew that a large number had come on the ground 
that morning with the expectation of hearing a great 
sermon from some one of the popular preachers in the 
regular work, and he suggested his inability to meet 
the expectations of the people. His objections to 
preaching on the occasion were, however, overruled 
by the elder, who told him that he would follow him 



48 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

with a sermon. A hymn was sung, a prayer offered, 
and the text announced ; but instead of entering upon 
its discussion he exhorted .the congregation to be 
patient, as he did not intend to preach, but was 
only going before to prepare the way, like John the 
Baptist. "There is one to speak after me," said he, 
" who is miglitier than I, the latchet of whose shoes 
I am not worthy to unloose." This was more than 
the elder had bargained for, and placed him in rather 
a tight place, as it created expectations which he was 
by no means adequate to meet, ready and fluent as 
he was. If the elder thought in this maneuver to 
set off his brilliant talents by way of contrast with 
the odd primitive style of the local preacher, he was 
sadly taken in, and must have preached under a press 
of disadvantages entirely unexpected and altogether 
undesirable. 

The shrewdness and wit of this local preacher 
scarcely ever failed him. He was prepared for every 
emergency. A revival had commenced near a town 
in which there was a college. The circuit preachers 
met with much opposition from the educated clergy 
and the learned professors of this backwoods temple 
of science. The local preacher sent an appointment 
to this place, and thought he would try his hand in 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 49 

stopping the mouths of persecutors. " Having been 
a * master mason,' and a stone mason, and having 
built the college, and being acquainted with the 
people and their religion, he concluded that it would 
be no very difficult matter to silence the opposition." 
At the time appointed he had a large audience. 
His text was Eevelation iv, 8-11 : " And the four 
beasts had each of them six wings about him; and 
they were full of eyes within : and they rest not day 
and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Al- 
mighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And 
when those beasts give glory, and honor, and thanks 
to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and 
ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him 
that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth 
forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the 
throne, saying. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
glory, and honor, and power : for thou hast created 
all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were 
created." This was a huge text, and only such as a 
" master builder" would think of undertaking to dis- 
cuss. With these he associated another passage from 
Revelation, as follows: "And I saw the dead, small 
and great, stand before God ; and the books were 
opened : and another book was opened, which is the 



50 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

book of life; and the dead were judged out of those 
tilings which were written in the books, according to 
their works. And the sea gave up the dead which 
were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead 
which were in them : and they were judged every 
man according to their works. And death and hell 
were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second 
death. And whosoever was not found written in the 
book of life was cast into the lake of fire." 

His preaching being more of the hortatory than 
expository style, he plunged at once into the spirit of 
his subject, dwelt upon the awful nature of holiness 
in God, and the necessity of holiness in man. He 
described the wicked in pointed terms, and was par- 
ticularly severe upon persecutors, whom he repre- 
sented as having reached the climax of wickedness, 
and doomed them all to the lake of fire. He assui-ed 
them in his application that many of their names were 
not written in the book of life, and strongly intimated 
that they might be found in the tavern-keeper's book, 
wiiich was not the book of life, but of death, contain- 
ing bills for whisky and "stirrup drams." 

At a certain camp-meeting, where, notwithstand- 
ing all the powerful exhortations of the preachers, 
but few persons were found to come into the altar 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. hi 

and seek religion, and where there was a general 
apathy among professors of religion, he resorted to the 
following expedient. Taking his stand in the altar 
at the base of the pulpit, he said, in pathetic tones, 
" Come on, brethren, I want to get a little more con- 
verted myself." Then falling at the mourners' bench 
he commenced praying with all his might. The effect 
was electrical. The people crowded in from all quar- 
tei"s, saints and sinners. Many professors soon became 
much excited, and loud shouts were heard on all sides. 
Approaching one who he thought became happy a 
little too soon, he said, " Don't shout yet, brother, you 
are not ready. Go on, but hold back." Many were 
converted on this occasion. 

In one of his sermons he described Solomon's temple, 
and spiritualized it so as to apply it to the Christian 
Church. He spoke of the number and variety of the 
stones, and the manner in which they were pre- 
pared for the building. Pie remarked that they were 
hewed, squared, marked, and numbered, so that 
when elevated to their places they fitted with great 
exactness. Speaking of the stones dug out of nature's 
quarry for the spiritual temple, he said : *' Some were 
very rough and hard. He noticed one in particular 
which he himself tried to prepare for the spiritual 



52 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

temple. It was so extremely hard that all his skill 
and force could not break it into proper shape. Be- 
coming impatient he gave it a tremendous blow with 
the hammer of the law, and it flew in pieces, when 
out jumped a negro and a whisky bottle." 

At a love-feast held during a quarterly meeting, 
a brother rose to speak. As soon as he commenced 
he was attacked with a hacking cough, and could 
only utter a word at a time. He was an extensive 
slaveholder, and rumor with her busy tongue had 
whispered that he was entirely too mercenary as a 
master in relation to his slaves. The local preacher, 
seeing the difficulty of getting up the words, exclaimed 
in the midst of one of his coughing paroxysms, "That's 
right, brother ; cough up the niggers and then you'll 
have an open time." 

We will relate one more incident connected with 
this local preacher. On his way to a certain appoint- 
ment a Methodist brother, who had heard that he 
frequently alluded to the domestic trafiic in slaves, 
which was prohibited by the Discipline of the Church, 
]-emarked to him that he need not preach on the sub- 
ject, as there was no buying of selling of slaves among 
the membership. But he had others to preach to 
besides Methodists, and he was apprised of the fact 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 53 

that there was present in the congregation a member 
of another Church, who had been recently engaged 
in the traffic, and hence he conceived it his duty, as 
did all ]\[etliodist preachers in that day in slave terri- 
tory, to show the people their transgressions, the re- 
ligious portion of them particularly; and in his sermon 
he referred to the subject, quoting the golden rule, 
which required all to love their neighbors as they 
love themselves. After this reference to an equality 
of feeling and ^action he remarked : " I suppose I 
need not say anything to you on this subject. You 
are all very good here, though it might possibly hap- 
pen among you that a man might sell his brother, 
and on his way home stop at a meeting, kneel down 
and take the sacrament, and, with the price of the 
slave in his pocket, rise up, and wiping his mouth, 
thank the Lord for all his tender mercies." Though 
the preachers of that day did not interfere with the 
simple relation of master and slave, yet they earnestly 
and faithfully enforced the apostle's doctrine in regard 
to that relation, and held the master amenable for 
any abuse of the same. 

Gruber thus describes a rich member of the 
Church in the bounds of his district : '' He resided 
on the South Branch and was a very singular man. 



54 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

He did not like to be imposed upon. He frequently 
had visitors, travelers who called themselves Meth- 
odists and wanted to stay all night. If they had a 
fine dandy appearance he would lot them wait on 
themselves though he had plenty of servants. His 
plan was to show such the granary where they could 
get feed for their horses. When they were in the 
granary, however, he would shut the door and request 
them to kneel down that he might hear them pray. 
Such a test he was sure would develop their true 
character, and it rarely failed. "When one of this 
class refused to pray he was sure that he was either 
a hypocrite or an impostor." 

The closing scene of this man's life is thus 
described : " When I went to see him he was calm 
as a summer's evening; his prospects were bright, his 
peace great, and his hope, full of immortality. I 
was the last person who prayed with him, and re- 
ceived his dying words. He remarked: 'Some of 
my neighbors set me down for a hypocrite or an 
enthusiast in life, but I hope they will believe me 
sincere in dying as I shall die. Like Samson, I 
hope I may conquer more of the enemies of religion 
in my death than in all my life.' I remained with 
him till he breathed his last, and saw him calmly 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 55 

and peacefully fall asleep in Jesus, not to wake until 
the morning of the resurrection. I tried to preach his 
funeral sermon to a very large and serious congrega- 
tion, from the text, 'Blessed are the dead which die in 
the Lord: Yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from 
their labors and their works do follow them.' Let 
my last end be like his." 

Of another rich man in the same neighborhood he 
makes the following remarks : " He had a large 
family, owned a number of slaves, and was a good 
master. His slaves were better off than some per- 
sons who were their own masters. He had a large 
house, and over its numerous doors were inscribed in 
large letters the most wholesome lessons. Over one 
door was written, * God is hereP'' He thus describes 
the daily worship in this house : " About day-break 
a trumpet was blown as a signal to rise. Half an 
hour after this the trumpet again sounded calhng to 
prayers, when all the members of the household, in- 
cluding the family and all the servants, were required 
to attend. If there was a preacher there he was in- 
formed of the order, and if he did not rise in time 
family worship was held without him, as the master 
was determined not to break the order of family 
worship to accommodate a lazy preacher who 



56 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

preached self-denial and then lay in bed until break- 
fast time, Breakfast was taken about sunrise, and 
then all went to their work. He was a tall straight 
man, and held a public office, but he was teachable 
as a child." 

A certain minister at one of the appointments 
on the district, being anxious to obtain the support 
and influence of a rich man who was not a member 
of his Church, resorted to the following expedient, 
which we will give in Gruber's own words: "The 
preacher left a subscription paper, requesting this 
man to use his influence to get persons to subscribe 
for his support. After some time he called again 
and told the man he had a request to make of him, 
which was that he would consent to be an elder in 
his Church. The man replied that he would not do 
that. The minister asked, ' Why not V ' Because,' said 
he, 'I do not belong to your Church; my wife and 
family belong to the Methodists, and I go to theii 
meetings myself.' The minister urged: 'You might 
be useful in my congregation.' 'But,' replied he, 'I 
don't believe your doctrine.' ' ITever mind, it makes 
no difference whatever; you can be an elder, and you 
must offer a stronger reason than tliat for refusing me 
this request' 'Well, then,' said he, 'I have another 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 57 

reason ; some of your elders get drunk.' ' I cannot 
help that,' said the minister, 'as that is a matter which 
belongs to them, and not to the Church.' ' Yery well,' 
said the rich influential man, I can help being an 
elder with them in your Church.' Thus ended the 
conversation. The miinster missed his mark and 
was disappointed, and the man missed the honor of 
being an elder." 



58 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 



CHAPTER III. 

Camp-meetings on the Greentrier District — ^ Commendable Emulation 
among the Preachers — A jolly Wedding — A Slaveholding Preacher — 
Monongahela District — Statistics of Camp-meetings — Bold Sinners — 
A young Man with a Pistol — Conversion of a Major — Camp-meetings 
among the Presbyterians — An Infidel Club — Assault and Battery — 
A "strait and stiff" Professor of Eeligion — A Shout in the Wrong 
Place — A happy Man — A Termigant — Quarterly Mee* ings — A Man 
in Distress — A zealous Exhorter — Interesting Historical Item — Last 
Interview with Bishop Asbury — High Heads — Fashionable Dress — ■ 
Letter to a General Conference Delegate — Opposition to Dogs — A 
Dandy Preacher — Eestoring Order at a Camp-meeting — Singular Ee- 
proof — Blowing out the Fire — Fine Style in Preaching — Preaching 
before the Professors and Students of Dickinson College — Opposition 
to Tobacco — Preachers reproved for Smoking. 

During the time he was presiding elder on the 
Greenbrier district, which included a period of three 
years, from 1807 to 1810, he held a large number of 
camp-meetings. The Rockingham camp-meeting, 
held in 180T, was largely attended; the ground was 
covered with tents and wagons. The following 
preachers were present, and preached on the occa- 
sion : Rev. Messrs. Miller, Holmes, Douglass, Carson, 
Xennerly, Chastain, and Fidler. This meeting was 
attended with great results. So intense was the ex- 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 59 

citement that two whole nights were spent in singing 
and prayer. Camp-meetings were also held at Bo- 
tetourt, Monroe, Greenbrier, Blacksbnrgh, Alle- 
gheny, and other places. Asbury, M'Kendree, Par- 
ker, Boehm, Shadford, Fleming, Ilenkle, Lee, Jen- 
nings, Frye, Monroe, Light, Monett, and numerous 
other preachers of that day were present at these 
meetings, and they afforded an admirable occasion 
for an interchano^e of views and feelino-s amonsj the 
itinerants, who were many of them widely separated 
in their fields of labor. The zeal and devotion which 
characterized them gave them a power and influ- 
ence in the community which made them successful 
wherever they labored. The Methodist Episcopal 
Church was then a unit, and no questions of govern- 
mental or prudential policy divided the ministry or 
laity. Having but one work, the preachers labored 
assiduously for its accomplishment; and the only 
strife among them was as to who should do the most 
work, encounter the most hardships, and make the 
most sacrifices for the cause of Christ ; an emulation 
the most desirable, and worthy of imitation by all 
the preachers of the present day. 

Gruber thus describes a wedding: " Between Harris- 
onburgh and Staunton, at a wedding, a large gathering 



60 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

of respectable people, there were some who watched 
professors of religion more than themselves. They had 
refreshments, good things, brandy, wine, and cordials 
in abundance. Before the ceremony was performed 
the company was called around the table to drink of 
the good things. The minister said grace over the 
good creatures, after which the company partook freely. 
After dinner some became very zealous in disputing 
on religious points ; some quarreled, and two were 
near fighting ; they got to the door, and one threw the 
other down some half dozen steps, and hurt him much. 
A skeptic ran in, called out the preacher, and told 
him he never saw a prayer answered quicker than 
his over that good drink, for there were two men who 
had got so religious and so strong that they were for 
a fight about it. The minister confessed his fault, and 
said he would not ask a blessing over such drink again. 
But it was said he had another fault. He was a hard 
slavemaster. He would tie up and whip his slaves 
on Sunday morning ; leave them tied up in the cellar 
till he had gone and preached and come back. But 
his end was dreadful. He ordered a slave to bring 
out a young horse to ride to his meeting to preach. 
The slave said : ' O massa, that horse too wild ; he 
throw you!' He said: 'Go, do what I tell you.' 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEK. 61 

The horse was got out, the minister started, but did 
not come back. The horse ran oif and killed him. 
In speaking of the accident in a company, one man 
said : ' They could not have expected a better or 
different end for him. It seemed as though the devil 
had got a bill of sale on the old fellow, and he had 
got him at last." This is what some persons think 
of slaveholding and slave-whipping preachers." 

At the Conference of 1810, which was held at Bal- 
timore, he was appointed presiding elder of the 
Monongahela district, which embraced all the coun- 
try between the Laurel Ridge and Lake Erie, includ- 
ing Clarksburgh in Virginia, and Armstrong county 
in Pennsylvania. This large field now embraces as 
many conferences within its bounds as there were 
then circuits. With but one exception, each of the 
appointments were supplied with a single preacher. 
These preachers had from thirty to forty appoint- 
ments to visit ever}'- four weeks. "Hard work," 
said the presiding elder to his preachers, " but 
good and certain pay; bread and meat given, 
and water, living water sure, including grace and 
glorj^, everything that is good here, and a crown 
hereafter." These preachers he met every three 
months at the quarterly meetings, where they labored 



62 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

together, and at every meeting there were conver- 
sions. Toward the latter part of summer, after the 
farmers had got tlirough with the work of the season, 
the camp-meetings were held, and they were gen- 
erally appointed at the time and place of the last 
quarterly meeting for the year. The presiding elder, 
in accordance with the request of Bishop Asbury, 
kept an account of these meetings, embracing the 
number of tents and people on the ground, the num- 
ber of sermons preached, with the names of the 
preachers and texts from which they preached, the 
number of persons converted, and the number of 
accessions to the Church. 

Gruber gives several incidents that occurred at 
these meetings. "In one camp," he says, "some 
bold sinners came to fight for their master, the devil ; 
but our Captain, Immanuel, made prisoners of them, 
and then made them ^ free indeed.' One fine, strong, 
good-looking young man among the mourners was 
in great distress, and found no relief until he drew 
a large pistol out of his pocket, with which he in- 
tended to defend himself if any one should offer to 
speak to him on the subject of religion. When he 
laid it on the bench beside him the Lord blessed 
him and gave him a great victory over all his foes. 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 63 

Having grounded the weapon of rebellion, he was 
prepared to enlist under the banner of the Prince of 
peace." 

" In another camp, after midnight, among many 
mourners, was a large man bearing the title of major, 
who was in great distress, praying and crying for 
mercy. Some who had said none but shallow men, 
ignorant women, and silly children would make such 
a noise in a public congregation, looked on with as- 
tonishment. ' See there,' said they ; ' there is the 
major! Look ! hear! only hear him !' Presently the 
Lord blessed him, and he arose, and large and heavy 
as he was, he leaped as high as the benches, shouting 
at the top of his voice, 'Glory to God, there is 
mercy for all ! I was taught that it was only for a 
few ; now I know Christ died for me and for all !' 
In the height of his rapture he noticed one of his 
brother officers and called him, saying, ' Captain, 
come here, there is a reality in religion. Yes, there 
is mercy for all!' While conversing with the cap- 
tain, his wife, who was among the mourners in an- 
other part of tlie congregation, and had been con- 
verted, came up shouting. They embraced each 
other, and the scene was so deeply affecting that eyes 
unused to weep poured forth a plenteous tribute." 



64 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

The fountains of human sympathy were broken up, 
and what no appeals of truth or power of persuasion 
could accomplish was effected by this exhibition of 
converting power. The conversion of a soul is an 
omnipotent moral power pervading an entire congre- 
gation ; it touches the hearts of angels and excites 
joy in heaven. 

Many similar scenes occurred at these meetings. 
They frequently held them all night, and continued 
day and night in succession for weeks. At one of 
them, held between "Washington and Steubenville, 
Gruber said there was very little intermission day or 
night. " The work went on, preaching, exhortation, 
weeping and rejoicing, singing and praying, crying 
and shouting. I saw the day break three mornings 
at that meeting, and we fulfilled what we had sung : 

' With thee all night I mean to stay, 
And wrestle till the break of day.' " 

The camp-meetings among the Presbyterians were 
attended with like results. The members came 
in wagons from a great distance, and as some of the 
preachers and elders did not approve of a noise, they 
found it very difiicult to manage the meetings so as 
to bring everything under the proper regimen of 
order. To obviate this difficultv, when a person 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 65 

became convicted and began to pray for mercy, 
tliey would carry him off some distance to a 
house and pray and sing with him. Some thought 
even this was unnecessary, and would suggest that 
they be let alone, for if the Lord had begun a good 
work in them he would carry it on, and it was not 
proper to interfere with his work. This would be 
seasonable advice if praying and singing are to be 
regarded in the light of an interference, and not as a 
means of grace ordained of God for the salvation of 
the soul, and co-operative with the Spirit in the work 
of conversion. 

Within the bounds of the district was an in- 
fidel club. The oracle of this club was a little 
Frenchman. They usually held their meetings at 
taverns, and the Frenchman generally held forth on 
such occasions. A little doctor was also associated 
with him, and with the united stock of knowledge 
they managed to keep the club enlightened on all 
matters of religion. Not content with exercising the 
liberty they enjoyed, to entertain and promulgate 
their infidel sentiments, they would frequently attend 
Methodist meetings and annoy the people by engag- 
ing in controversy with any they could find willing 
to enter into a discussion. On a certain occasion 



66 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

they attended camp-meeting, and made themselves 
particularly conspicuous by walking about and criti- 
cising everything they saw and heard. To show his 
contempt for the Methodists, the doctor, with a cigar 
in his mouth, crowded up clgse to the altar, near the 
pulpit, in time of worship, and puffed away much to 
the annoyance of all. Gruber requested him 
to go to some other place more appropriate for 
smoking. At this the gentleman of the pill-bag 
became quite indignant, and said he would do no 
such thing. At this Gruber approached him and 
raised his hand to take away "the smoking fire- 
brand," as he called it, " so near his nose." This 
roused the ire of the little doctor to a boiling point, 
and he went to a country squire near at hand and 
sued him for an assault and batter3\ At the close 
of the meetins: Gruber followed the constable and a 
large crowd to the seat of justice in the log-cabin. 
When he appeared before the justice the dignitary 
of tlie law advised the accused to make an apology 
to the doctor for his attack, as in that case the mat- 
ter would not go so hard with him. But Gruber 
replied, that he would not confess his sins till he was 
convinced of them, and as he was charged with a 
battery he w >uld like to see the doctor's wounds, 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUJ3ER. 67 

bruises, broken bones, and batters, causing life to be 
despaired of. He would be perfectly willing in that 
case to employ a surgeon to mend up his little body 
if it was broken anywhere. This was too much 
both for the doctor and squire, and he was bound 
over to court. 

On the day of trial Gruber appeared with a skill- 
ful lawyer, and after the evidence and pleadings, the 
jury were not long in bringing in a verdict of not 
guilty. One of them remarked that the charge 
was brought against the wrong man, as the doctor 
should have been fined for disturbing the camp- 
meeting. 

Whenever Gruber had opportunity he introduced 
the subject of religion. He was rough in his man- 
ners, sometimes exceedingly so, but beneath a rough 
and somewhat forbidding exterior there was a genial 
sympathetic heart. Riding to one of his appoint- 
ments on a certain occasion he fell in company with 
a gentleman whom he described as " strait and stiff 
looking." Finding that he was a professor of relig- 
ion, he inquired into his religious state. ISTot being 
able to satisfy him in regard to his personal expe- 
rience, he asked him " if apple trees bore, or had 
fruit in the winter." 



68 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

The stranger replied, "No, certainly not; they 
bear no kind of fruit in the winter." 

" Then," said Gruber, " if a man's faith is dead 
without good works, what kind of faith has he while 
liis works are bad." 

" No man can live without sin," he replied ; " as 
soon as a man is made holy he must die ; he cannot 
stay in this world any longer." 

" But how can he serve God in holiness, and have 
his fruit unto holiness and still live in sin ?" 

The stranger made no reply, and they parted, 
both doubtless satisfied that their views on the sub- 
ject of religious experience were correct. 

In those days it frequently happened that the min- 
isters of different denominations were obliged to 
preach in school-houses and court-houses, from the 
fact that there were no churches. A Presbyterian 
minister one Sabbath afternoon preached, by way of 
reading a sermon, in the village court-house. The 
discourse was well written, and evinced considerable 
theological ability ; but it was read in such a monot- 
onous manner that it lulled many to sleep. All was 
perfectly quiet, and nothing disturbed the stillness of 
the hour. No sound was heard but the voice of the 
preacher; which fell in soft cadences upon the ear 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 69 

like the murmur of a distant waterfall. Suddenly a 
Methodist woman in the court-room broke out into a 
shout of " Glory ! glory ! praise the Lord for what 
he has done for my soul !" Those who had fallen 
asleep under the soothing tones of the minister were 
awakened, others were frightened, and the preacher 
himself was entirely overcome. It was some time 
before he could rally so as to proceed with his dis- 
course. When the meeting was over the woman 
was asked why she so disturbed the meeting. She 
replied: "I was converted at a camp-meeting at East 
Liberty last year, and while I listened to the dry 
sermon I thought of old times. It was just the kind 
I used to hear before I was converted ; I then thought 
of the wonderful change, and the happy meetings 
we have now, and forgetting where I was I had to 
shout." 

The following from his journal in relation to 
a happy man and a wicked woman possesses 
interest: 

" In Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, a man lived 
by himself whose name began with M. He was one 
of the happiest men I saw at a quarterly meeting. 
Going along the road a man asked me : * Do you see 
that house across the field V I said ' Yes.' ' There,' 



TO LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

said he, 'lives M., that you saw so happy at the 
meeting ; he is a mechanic, lives alone, and has family 
prayer evening and morning. When some asked 
why he did so, as he had no family, he said he 
belonged to the household of faith, the family of 
God. He identified himself with all the praying 
families, and while hundreds and thousands were 
worshiping, he would worship too ; their prayers 
all met at the throne of grace, and great blessings 
came down from heaven and made a heavenly 
place. He would not be deprived of the privilege 
and blessing of family prayer. He was often heard 
by the neighbors praying and praising God, and 
shouting, 'Glory to God ! glory to God!' So did 
Michael." 

" I will relate a case somewhat different from this : 
A man with a family had a wife who would not 
let him have family prayer, but made a noise and 
disturbance. He told her she must be quiet, and not 
interrupt him; he must pray with his family. She 
got w^orse still. He told her if she did not keep 
quiet in time of prayer he would have to correct her. 
She dared him to do that, telling him he would be 
put out of society. He went and told the leader to 
cross his name off the class paper, for he must do 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 71 

what a member should not do, whip his wife. The 
leader took the hint, and crossed out the name. The 
man went home, got ready a rod, told his wife to 
keep quiet, etc. ; but she rattled the chairs, and made 
more noise than before. His prayer (I suppose) 
was not as long as a Pharisee's, but as soon as he 
was done praying he gave his wife a complete w^hip- 
ping. After a restless night, she went earl}' to the 
leader to complain about the bad man in his class, 
saying, 'My husband whipped me; is that the kind 
of men 3' on have in your class?' He said, 'Your 
husband don't belong to it ; he got his name out 
some time ago.' 'What, is he out? For the Lord's 
sake take him in again, or he will kill me.' That 
woman got converted after that, and her husband 
became a useful itinerant preacher. Here was per- 
severance in family prayer and success." 

The quarterly meetings were largely attended in 
those days. They began on Saturday, and continued 
until the following Monday evening, sometimes 
longer. A revival was confidently looked for on 
such occasions, and it would be considered a very 
dry and profitless time if some were not converted. 
At eleven o'clock on Saturday a sermon would be 
preached by the presiding elder, after which the 



'72 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

quarterly conference was held. In the evening the 
circuit preacher would hold forth, and at the conclu- 
sion of his discourse an exhortation would be de- 
livered and persons invited to come to the mourn- 
ers' bench. On Sabbath morning at eight o'clock a 
love-feast would be held, at which the members of 
the Church would relate their Christian experience. 
In times of revival these meetings were exceedingly 
interesting and profitable. The speaking exercises 
would be kept up till the time of preaching, when the 
doors would be opened and outsiders admitted. At 
this appointment the house generally was literally 
packed, and the doors, windows, and yard filled with 
people, many of whom had come a great distance to 
hear the presiding elder, who then attracted more atten- 
tion than one of our bishops would at the present day. 
At one of these meetings, after laboring hard in 
the pulpit and the prayer-meeting until Monday night, 
the preachei*s and the members were disappointed 
and dispirited at witnessing no revival. Not one soul 
was converted, nor did a single sinner give any signs 
of penitence. The meeting at length closed, and the 
congregation separated to the different houses in the 
neighborhood. There w^ere many at this meeting 
from a distance, and they were provided for by the 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 73 

members living in the neighborhood of the church or 
the school-house, as the case might be. It frequently 
happened that the number of strangers was so great, 
that the men were obliged to sleep in rows upon the 
floor. At this meeting was a man whose wife 
and relatives were membei^ of the Church. They 
had come from a considerable distance to attend 
it. He was a man of the world, and many 
prayers had been offered in his behalf that he might 
be converted at this meeting. His sleeping place 
was by the side of a zealous exhorter. Some time in 
the night the exhorter heard him groan, and thinking 
him under conviction, in an imploring manner asked 
him what was the matter. " O my dear sir," said he, 
"I am the most disappointed and unhappy man in 
the world !" This was glad news to the exhorter, and 
he urged him not to be discouraged, but to pei-severe 
in seeking, and he had no doubt but that God would 
have mercy upon him, and save him from his sins. 
" But I am sure I can't succeed," said the groaning 
man, " for I have tried my best ; I got the very best 
bait I could find, but I can't catch a single rabbit. 
When I go to my traps in the morning I find them 
all sprung and the bait all gone. I am the most 
unlucky and miserable man in the world." 



74 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

This was too much for the exhorter, and he turned 
over, groaning out a prayer that the Lord would 
pity the poor thoughtless sinner. 

In Gruber's journal we find many interesting items 
pertaining to Methodist history. The following reso- 
lutions, passed at the General Conference of 1812, 
we do not recollect to have seen in print ; as they 
possess historic interest, we insert them : 

"I. Resolved^ Tliat each presiding elder, with the 
preachers of his district, collect materials for the his- 
tory of Methodism. They were to have in view the 
following items : 1. A short sketch of the geography 
of the district, including boundaries, rivers, mount- 
ains, soil, climate, customs of the people, etc. 2. The 
particular moral condition of the people at the intro- 
duction of Methodism. 3. By whom and at what time 
the first settlements were formed. 4. The difiiculties 
the first preachers were exposed to on account of the 
Indians in frontier settlements, the dangers they 
encountered, and their success while preaching in 
forts and out-posts. 5. When and by whom were 
the first circuits formed, also the first classes, and the 
revivals in difi'erent places and at diflPerent times. 
6. The means by which Methodist preachers were 
introduced to difi'erent places. 7. How the work 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 75 

progressed until it became a district ; the names and 
numbers of circuits, meeting-houses, private places of 
preaching, number of classes and members, number 
of traveling preachers and local preachers, general 
number attending camp-meetings, number converted, 
biographical sketches of those who had lived well 
and died happy among the traveling and local 
preachers and private members, males and females. 

" 11. Resolved^ That the presiding elders and preach- 
ers shall be instructed to procure certificates relative 
to facts in their collection of materials, which cer- 
tificates shall have the most respectable signatures 
that can be obtained and submitted as hereafter 
directed ; the days of continuance, the order and 
origin of camp-meetings. 

" III. Resolved^ That each of the annual conferences 
appoint a committee of review, consisting of three 
members, to receive materials submitted by the pre- 
siding elders and preachers, and report to the re- 
spective conferences ; and if approved of by the 
conferences, the committee shall send the materials 
with their report to the book agent. 

'' lY. Resolved^ That the Is^ew York Annual Confer- 
ence be, and is hereby authorized to engage with a 
historian to digest and arrange the order of the hia- 



76 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

tory of the Methodist Church in America, and to give 
the materials collected as above, with any others that 
may be collected from journals, letters, manuscripts, 
or from any other source, historical form and style. 

" Y. Besolved, That our editor, book agent, and book 
committee be appointed a committee to read and 
approve the history before it is published." 

While Gruber was taking? his last round on the 
district he met Bishop Asbury on the Alleghany 
Mountains. The bishop was on a visit to the West- 
ern Conferences, which proved to be his last. He 
was much attached to Gruber, and in one of his let- 
ters to him said he prayed for him twice every day. 
When they met, Gruber hitched his horse by the 
roadside and took a seat beside the bishop in his 
carriage, and had a most pleasant interview. The 
toil-worn veteran, feeling that his work was nearly 
done, exhorted the strong and stalwart itinerant 
to increased exertion and fidelity in the cause of 
Christ. Among other things he said : " O if I was 
young I would cry aloud, I would lift up my voice 
like a trumpet ! O what pride, conformity to the 
world in following its fashions ! Many of our people 
are going to ruin ! Warn them, warn them from me, 
while you have strength and time, and be faithful to 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. T7 

your duty." It was an affecting interview, and at its 
conclusion the itinerant mounted his horse, and they 
parted for the hxst time. The whole life of Gruber 
showed how faithfully he carried out the bishop's 
injunctions in regard to the fashions of the world. 
Indeed, all the preachers of that day were remarka- 
bly plain in their dress and manners. The preachers 
in their conferences solemnl}^ voted against double- 
breasted coats and vests, and faithfully carried out 
the rule of the Church to give no tickets of admis- 
sion to love-feasts to any members of the Church 
who wore ''high heads, enormous bonnets, ruffles, 
and rings." The rule was explained by some of the 
preachers in the olden time thus: "High heads 
mean three story hats, one story for the head, 
another for the pocket handkerchief, and the third 
for a few dozen cigars." Enormous bonnets were 
something of the style worn by the wife of an 
eccentric English clergyman, who, it is said, as his 
wife was coming into church, cried out at the top of 

his voice : " Make way for Mrs. , as she is coming 

with a chest of drawers on her head." Gruber was 
accustomed to say, when speaking on this subject : 
" High heads have passed away and flat heads are in 
their place. Enormous bonnets have had their day, 



T8 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEE. 

and now little things, not large enough to shade the 
nose, are all the rage. Ruffles and rings, artificials 
and bows are round, wrong, and needless." 

While preaching in a certain place on one occa- 
sion an unusually tall lady entered. On seeing her 
he stopped preaching and said : " Make room for 
that lady ; one might have thought she was tall 
enough to be seen without the plumage of that pird 
in her ponnet." Some days afterward the lady met 
Gruber and complained that he had treated her 
rudely. '' O sister," he replied, '' was that you ? 
Well, I did not not know it was you ; I thought you 
had more sense." 

He was particularly severe on some of the modern 
preachers because they did not preach against the 
fashions of the world. Some in preaching, he said, 
" draw the bow and take aim at some in the congre- 
gation, but the arrow does not hit the mark ; it is 
stopped in the trimming, rigging, muff, drums, 
bustles, and other fashionable gear of their wives or 
daughters." 

About that time a certain article of dress known 
among the ladies as the "petticoat and habit," 
came into general use ; and as fashion will sooner or 
later have its way, it obtained among the young 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEK. 79 

ladies of the Methodist Church. Gruber was at- 
tending a camp-meeting in the neighborhood of 
Franklin, Pennsylvania. At this meeting there were 
several young ladies dressed after this fashion. 
Their appearance so thoroughly displeased him that, 
true to his instincts, he determined, if possible, to 
administer a public reproof. During a prayer-meet- 
ing some of these fashionables were grouped together, 
singing a hymn which was very popular in those 
days. This hymn, the chorus of whicli was, 

" I want to get to heaven, 
My long sought rest," 

they sung with great animation, and their animation 
increased as they saw the presiding elder advance and 
join them. It was discovered after a while that he 
changed the last line of the chorus, and instead of 
singing, 

" I want to get to heaven, 
My long sought rest," 



he sang. 



" I want to get to heaven 

With my long short dress.'''' 



One after anotlier, as they detected the change in 
the chorus, ceased singing until all had stopped, 
and Gruber was left alone. At this he sung more 



80 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

lustily than ever, so that all around could hear. 
The "long short dresses" soon began to disappear, 
and the conscience of Gruber was not again dis- 
turbed on that score during the remainder of the 
meeting. 

Gruber thus describes an interview he had with a 
fashionable family : 

'' In one of the circuits I found a local preacher 
who had been an itinerant, but got married, settled 
himself quite easy and independent, got rich, and 
had a fine family; but none of his children had 
religion. On a Sunday afternoon, while sitting with 
him and his wife, a very fine young man and a fine 
young lady came in. The preacher introduced them 
to me as his children. After a friendly conversation, 
I took upon myself to be master of ceremonies, and 
introduced the father to the son after this manner : 
'This is your father; he is a plain Methodist 
preacher ; he is trying to persuade all to come to 
Christ for salvation ; the young to seek first the king- 
dom of heaven, and children to honor and obey their 
parents. What will his congregation think when 
they look at you, his son, his oldest son ? The Lord 
pity you !' Then I spoke to the father: 'This is your 
son; this fine, gay, fashionable young man, with his 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 81 

ruffles and nonsense about him, is the son of a plain 

Methodist preaclier. "Wliat will your congregation 

think of you when they hear you preach and see 

your son as he is? Will they not think of Eli 

the priest V This was amusing to the fine young 

lady. I then turned to her and said : ' This is your 

mother ; this plain, old-fashioned woman is your 

mother. She pra^^s for you, is trying to get to 

heaven, and will probably leave you behind, in a 

world of pride, and vanity, and folly. Look at her. 

Who that looks at you would guess that you were 

I'elated to her V I then spoke to the mother : ' This 

is your daughter, this fine-looking young lady, with 

her ruffles, rings, curls, locket, and silly, needless 

ornaments about her. Look at her. What will the 

people think of 3^ou and her? you a professor of 

religion and a preacher's wife. Some will think that, 

though you are plain yourself, you love to see your 

child gay and fashionable ; but they will wonder 

who buys those costly toys and trinkets, father or 

mother. Others will think that your daughter is 

master and mistress both, and does as she pleases. 

But some will fear that, with her beau-catchers, she 

will catch a fool and go to destruction. This would 

be no comfort nor credit to you or her.' Here 

6 



82 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

ended the introduction ; but I got little thanks for 
my ceremony, politeness, and plain dealing." 

The following letter to a delegate in one of the 
General Conferences will be found interesting : 

"As you are in the General Conference — and a 
very important one it is said to be — let me drop a 
hint about a part of the Discipline. 

" One of our general rules forbids the putting on of 
gold and costly apparel. In another part we read : 
'Therefore give no tickets to any till they have left 
off superfluous ornaments ; and give no tickets to any 
that wear high heads, enormous bonnets, ruffles, or 
rings. In visitings, etc., we are to guard against ex- 
pensiveness or gayety of apparel.' 'Now as soon as 
this is mentioned some begin to laugh, and say we are 
superstitious, etc., and perhaps it would not be con- 
sidered in order to say anything about such small 
points in some conferences. 

'' But what shall we do with our Discipline ? ' Mind 
every point, great and small,' and not mend our rules, 
but keep them, etc. Now I pray and hope the Gen- 
eral Conference will do something, so that there may 
be some consistency among us. Pardon a hint, etc. 
Yote and put the section on dress out of the Disci- 
pline ; and let preachers and members, young and old, 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 83 

, dress just as tliej please. If there is any danger, after 
that is done, of any of our preachers or members 
hm'ting the feelings of any of our fine members, 
put a little short section in something like the fol- 
lowing : 

" ' Question. Should we say anything in our preach- 
ing or private conversation about dress ? 

" * Answer. B}^ no means. This is no time to preach 
or to speak about such little things and small points. 
There is no religion in dress. Our first preachers 
were thrust out to raise a holy people, and Method- 
ism is designed to spread holiness over these lands 
and through all this country, etc. "We are gaining 
ground, carrying all before us, going fast, and shall 
soon be as fine and fashionable a Church as any in 
this world.' 

" If this will not pass current (though it is accord- 
ing to the custom adopted by not a few) then do adopt 
some plan, or modify the section by leaving out some 
w^ords hard to be understood, such as high heads, 
enormous bonnets, etc., and put in plain words, such 
as enormous sleeves, bags of feathers, or balloons ; 
require decent and modest apparel that will fit the 
person whether it fits the fashion or not. 

" There was a time when the preachers and mem- 



84 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

bers of our society were convinced that there was a 
great deficiency of vital religion in the Church of 
England in America. It would be an important in- 
quiry now, when preachers are together from every 
part of America, What is the state of vital religion 
now in the Methodist Episcopal Church ? If it 
would be in order let the inquiry be made, and a re- 
ply too. If we advance or increase in limits, stations, 
bishops, colleges, preachers, agents — but not in mem- 
bers and vital religion — we increase our expenses and 
burdens till we sink under the weight, and the Lord 
will raise up another people to be the salt of the earth 
and the light of the world. 

" I hope you have restored (or will) Mr. Wesley's 
rule on temperance. It always seemed strange to me 
when the members of our Church had to join another 
society to be temperate. 

"Query. Ought we not to form a plain decent 
dressing society in our Church, and get as many as 
we can to join it forthwith? 

"Another hint. Is there no way to prevent our 
circuits being ruined, cut up, or crippled, till there 
are no appointments left that are worth filling except 
Sundays — good clear Sundays — six or seven for two 
weeks, or one dozen appointments for four weeks; 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 85 

fifty rest weeks in a year, and constant complaints 
about poor pay or support, and great deficiencies ? In 
such cases the people are burdened, and the preachers 
are mortified continually. Is there no remedy for 
these evils and defects? Lord help, help us! May 
the fountain of wisdom pour floods of understanding 
on our delegates in the General Conference, that all 
they do may be done right, and finished quick and 
complete, that they may go to their work. And may 
the Lord send now prosperity everywhere. 

"A Methodist preacher is to mind every point, 
great and small, in the Methodist Discipline. The 
Methodists should let their light shine ; not be like the 
world, that is in darkness and full of darkness. 

" Many of our members are gay and fashionable, 
and do not even appear like Methodists. Do such 
abstain* from all appearance of evil. 

" They have had great preachers, and some of the 
best, who said nothing about sucli things, whose wives 
were as gay in their dress as any, and the preachers 
did not dress plain themselves. Now if some have 
been mindful of great points in our Discipline, some 
ought to mind the small points ; let me do it. 

" N.B. If you should have a cloudy, stormy day in 
your conference, and be at a loss, read some of my 



86 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

letter to give some new thoughts, and clear some 
ideas, and brighten up the sky." 

As he was himself exceedingly plain in his apparel, 
wearing a coat without buttons, and plain as any 
that could be found in Quakerdom, he was particu- 
larly severe on the preachers who indulged in any 
superfluities. It would almost throw him into spasms 
to see a preacher with a cane and gloves, and the 
sight of a cigar was insupportable. It would seem 
that he was the sworn enemy of canes, vails, cigars, 
and dogs. It is said, such was his aversion to the 
latter, that on a certain occasion he w^ent out of a 
funeral procession to pelt away a noisy cur who was 
following. He has been known frequently to expel 
them from the church or the house where he was 
holding meeting. A young preacher once thought 
to escape his ire, when reproved by him for carrying 
a cane, by telling him that he carried it to protect 
himself from the dogs. '' Ah," said Gruber, " is that 
it ? Well, dog-pelting is a poor business." 

On one of the circuits which he traveled he had 
what he called "a dandy preacher" for a colleague. 
This young man would spend his rest days in hunting 
and fishing, a recreativ?. sport which Gruber thought 
was entirely incompatible with the ministerial pro- 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 87 

fession. His patience was sorely tried, and it seemed 
that all liis reproofs and exhortations were lost upon 
him. What added to his '' ])ainfal exercises," as he 
called them, the young man rose above the dignity 
of the saddle and saddle-bags, and traveled round the 
circuit in a gig. Failing in all his eiforts to get the 
young preacher into the regular itinerant harness he 
eventually gave him up, and prayed most fervently^ 
that the Lord would deliver him from a dandy 
preacher for a colleague. 

At a camp-meeting on a certain occasion, where 
considerable difEculty was experienced in getting the 
people to observe order, from the number of young 
persons who were walking about, collecting in groups, 
and engaged in conversation, the presiding elder, in 
the most respectful and courteous terms, requested 
them to be seated. Not seeming to understand, or 
not caring to comply with the request, the young 
people paid no attention whatever to what was said, 
but kept up their walking and talking. Gruber, 
who was present, felt greatly aggrieved, and rising 
in the stand he roared out: "Mr. Presiding Elder, 
you called those young folks gentlemen and ladies, 
and they did not know what you meant!" He then 
added : " Boys, come right along and take seats 



88 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

here," pointing to the right; "and you, gals, come 
up and take jour seats here on the left," Earnest 
and peremptory as he was, yet so comical was his 
manner that their attention was at once arrested, and 
they came smilingly forward and took their seats. 

At another time the same difficulty occurred. At 
the close of a prayer-meeting in the altar, when the 
time had come for preaching every effort of the 
elder failed to get the congregation orderly arranged. 
Quite a number were standing on the seats, and 
among them several ladies. Gruber again lifted up 
his voice, the squeaking German accent of which 
immediately arrested attention, and said : " If those 
young ladies there only knew what great holes they 
have in their stockings they wouldn't be standing on 
the bench where they can be seen by everybody." 
They all dropped suddenly as if they had been shot. 
Order was restored, and all was quiet. After the 
discourse was ended one of the preachers asked how 
he knew the young ladies had holes in their stock- 
ings. " Why," said he in his quizzical manner, " did 
you ever know stockings without holes in them ?" 

At a camp-meeting near Baltimore, after the trum- 
pet had been blown announcing the time for closing 
the exercises in the praying circles, one of them, un- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 89 

willing to stop, kept on singing and praying. Grnber, 
somewhat impatient, and evidently not pleased at 
their want of obedience to order, after standing near 
for a short time, shouted out at the top of his voice, 
"That's right, brothers, blow all the lire out!" 

He seemed to have as much a horror of anything 
graceful in a sermon as he had of anything attractive 
and beautiful in dress, and took real pleasure at . 
times in trying how rough and uncouth he could be 
in his expressions in the pulpit. While preaching 
in Camden, Xew Jersey, one of the stewards of the 
Church, whose ])rovince it was to tell the preachers 
what he thought wrong in them, ventured to speak 
to him on the subject of preaching, and suggested 
tlie propriety of his paying more attention to 
system, and to give a little more smoothness and 
arace to his words. Gruber listened to him with 
evident uneasiness, and as soon as he had closed his 
remarks replied : " O very well ; you want me to 
preach very nice and fine when I come to Camden 
among the fashionable people. I'll try." When he 
came round again the house was crowded to hear the 
preacher in his improved style. He arranged his 
discourse in as logical an order as he was capable of, 
and delivered it in a more correct manner. Not- 



90 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

withstanding the cliange .in his style, he managed 
to utter some of the severest denunciations against 
formal and fashionable professors. He was allowed 
ever after to preach in his own wa}^ in that place. 

His last sermon at Carlisle is remembered by one 
of the professors of Dickinson College, located at that 
place, as characteristic of his style of preaching. The 
professors of this institution were Methodists, and the 
most of them, if not all, were Methodist preachers. 
Whenever he preached in Carlisle the professors and 
students all turned out to hear him. On the occa- 
sion to which we refer they were all present. In 
the course of the sermon he remarked that the time 
was when Methodist preachers went round their cir- 
cuits carrying their libraries in their saddle-bags. 
They would preach the word as it came to them. 
'' ISTow," said he, " preachers are made at theological 
schools, and they spend a long time in making their 
sermons. They want to make a great effort and pro- 
duce great sermons, and make the impression that 
they are great men, and what is the result?'' Look- 
ing round intently for a few moments on the pro- 
fessors and students, he added, Vith emphasis, " The 
result is, great fools !" 

He was a particular enemy of tobacco as well as 



LIFE OF JACOli GKUBEK. 91 

coffee and tea, and took every occasion to denounce 
their nse. Woe betide the young preaclier who would 
cross his path with a cigar in his mouth. He was 
sure to get a sound reproof for indulging in the " sin- 
ful practice." He thus discourses on the subject: 
" How shall we cure or treat a young preacher who 
preaches self-denial, is very severe on those who take 
a dram sometimes, but takes tobacco himself without 
ceasing, and says he cannot quit it, and it does hira 
good ? Is not his faith strong ? But still it is not as 
large as a grain of mustard-seed, or it would remove 
this mountain of sin. It is only as large as a grain 
of tobacco-seed. What a pity ! I had some acquaint- 
ance with a good man who was a judge of good to- 
bacco. One of his particular friends told me that one 
day he was confused in preaching, and he asked him 
after meeting what was the matter that he could not 
get along any better? 'Why,' said the preacher, 'be- 
cause I had such bad tobacco.' 'What,' said his 
friend, ' do you chew tobacco while you are preach- 
ing V ' Yes,' said he, ' I always take a fresh plug when 
I begin.' ' After this,' said his friend, ' I could always 
tell by his preaching whether he had good tobacco, 
and was careful to furnish him with the article.' May 
the Lord pity us, and save us ! So prays J. G-ruber." 



I 
92 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

The Eev. J. Aslibrook, of New Jerse}^, sends us 
the following : "At a qnarterl j meeting, held in 
Springfield, Pa., Brother J. Lybrand, of precious 
memory, was presiding elder, and Brother Gruber 
was preacher in charge. After the usual duties of 
the meeting were over, namely, preaching, quarterly 
conference, etc., a number of brethren went to the 
house of Brother Bull to dine ; after, w^hich, and 
during the absence of Brother Gruber, they indulged 
in smokinor cio:ars. On the return of Brotlier Graber 
he exclaimed, ' Dear me, what a smoke,' adding : 

' Tobacco is an evil weed, 

And from tlie deml did proceed ; 

It spoils your breath and burns your clothes, 

And makes a chinmey of your nose.' 

Brother Lybrand said to him, ' Brother Gruber, that 
is pretty good poetry, but I doubt its theology; I 
do not believe that the devil made tobacco, and you 
must make your assertion true.' ' Well,' responded 
lie, 'I guess I can.' 'Get at it then.' 'I read in 
the Scriptures that the mustard-seed is the smallest 
of all seeds, that is, the smallest of all seeds that the 
Lord has made, and everybody knows that the to- 
bacco-seed is smaller than the mustard-seed, and 
therefore the devil must have made it.' " 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 93 



CHAPTEE IV. 

Preacliing in Cabins — Appointed to Baltimore — Light-street and Sharp- 
street Churches — Quaker Opposition — Conversation with a Quaker 
— The Battle at Nortli Point — Preaching to the Soldiers — Bombard- 
ment — Burial Avith the Honors of War — Sermon on the Fourth of 
July — A Strange Procession — Dreams and Visions — Old Joe's Vis 
ion of Jacob's Ladder. 

Hitherto Grnber had been wliat is denominated a 
traveling preaclier, " holding forth the word of life " 
in cabins and school-houses and barns, as well as 
in the woods, in wild uncultivated districts of coun- 
try. He was thus brought into contact with all 
classes and conditions of men, and with all grades of 
society. An itinerant service of thirteen years had 
qualified him by its vigorous discipline for effective 
labor in any part of the Methodist field. His expe- 
rience in ministerial labor, connected with his 
versatility of talent and his inexhaustible wit and 
power of repartee, (notwithstanding his asperity, of 
manner, which caused him to be shunned by a 
portion of the Methodists who were ill at ease 
under the restraints of a discipline which, in their 



94 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

opinion, more nearly resembled the asceticism 
of the Jesuit order than the teachings of Jesus,) 
drew around liim a much larger portion of the 
Church, who courted his society and regarded him 
almost in the light of an oracle. He seemed to have 
a dread of cities ; and what he called " the fashiona- 
ble flummery of city churches " gave him '' painful 
exercises " whenever it fell to his lot to preach in 
them. 

Notwithstanding all this. Bishop Asbury deter- 
mined to give him a trial of a city station, and ap- 
pointed him to Baltimore. That he might not lose 
all his comfort, and be subjected throughout the 
entire time of his service to preach to those who did 
not dress in the same Quakerlike plainness as him- 
self, and who did not as rigidly, and hermitlike, 
abstain from all innocent recreation, and were not, 
like him, economical almost to parsimony, to 
the Light-street Church was added the colored 
Church in Sharp-street. The colored congregation, 
which was quite large, took great delight in calling 
him their elder, and he took equal pleasure in having 
it so. He accordingly entered right heartily into the 
work of preaching to his colored brethren, and tliey 
enjoyed it amazingly. The meetings in Sharp-street 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 95 

were scenes of great excitement, and were entirely 
too noisy for the Quakers in tliat vicinity, who com- 
plained to the grand jury, asking that grave body, as 
a conservator of the peace, to present them as a 
nuisance. Among the witnesses called was an old 
Quaker who lived not far from the church, but his 
testimony was not sufficiently clear and to the point 
to justify the finding of a bill. One of the Quakers, 
who was opposed to the meetings of the colored 
people, called on Gruber to enter his complaint. He 
said the colored people were very unruly and hard 
to govern, and proffered his assistance in reducing 
them to order. This same godl}^ Quaker had already 
given the colored people a specimen of his ability to 
govern them. During the wdnter previous to the 
arrival of Gruber he went one night into their meet- 
ing, flourished his club, put out some of their lights, 
and ordered them in the midst of their singing and 
praying to break up their meeting. The pastor of 
Sharp-street, aware of this fact, was not only unwilling 
to accept the proffered assistance of this Quaker, but 
gave him to understand that the colored people 
had just as good a right to make a noise in their 
meetiiags as the Quakers had to sit in silence with 
their hats on ; and as they had no colored people in 



96 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

their churches in Baltimore, he thought it would be 
advisable for them to endeavor to get them into their 
meetings and teach them the true Quaker order. 

He did not seem to have the same admiration for 
the Quakers that Wesley had, though he approached 
more nearly that singular sect in his manner of dress 
than the founder of Methodism, who, if we are credi- 
bly informed, was not so far removed from the fash- 
ionable world as to exclude all ornament, and wore 
wrist ruffles. As Gruber was traveling one day 
between Cumberland and Uniontown he overtook 
one of this strait sect. From the plainness of his 
dress the Quaker supposed him to be one of their 
number. The Quaker soon entered into conversation 
with him, and asked him a number of questions. 
After he had finished, Gruber commenced, and tlie 
followino^ conversation ensued : 

"Where did you come from ?" 

" From Virginia," replied the Quaker. 

" What part of Virginia ?" 

" Apple-pie Kidge." 

"That is a place I have been at in years gone by. 
Is it improving any ?" 

"O yes, it is; there are a number of Friends 
there." 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUJJKU. 97 

"Are there any revivals of religion in those parts 
among the different denominations? Are any get- 
ting converted among the Friends at Apple-pie 
Eidge." 

" O yes, a good man}^, I hope." 

" I am glad to hear that; I am always glad to hear 
of the conversion of souls anywhere, and am particu- 
larly rejoiced to hear of conversions among the 
Quakers or Friends, as I never heard of such a thing 
before." 

"Thee is uncharitable, very." 

"I do not w^isli to be so. The good news you 
bring me gives me a much more favorable opinion 
of your people. Were there many converts at Ap- 
ple-pie Eidge f ' 

"I hope a good many." 

" Could you give me the names of some, perhaps 
I might know^ them." 

" O there are a number." 

" Please to name two or three, as I want to have 
it to say that people get converted among the Quakers 
as well as among other denominations." 

The Quaker was silent. 

" Don't leave me as uncharitable as you found me. 

Have you ever been converted 3'ourself ?" 

7 



98 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

" We don't look at these things and speak of them 
as thee does; there is no need of speaking or preach- 
ing, as every one may tnrn inward and find the true 
teacher and inward light." 

" Do you mean by the true teacher and inward 
light Jesus Christ ?" 

"O yes, he is the Great Teacher." 

By this time they arrived at a place where they 
separated, and the Quaker turned to the preacher 
and said, " Fare thee well." 

During the year he was stationed in Baltimore 
the battle at l^orth Point took place. It was a time 
of great excitement. The soldiers were encamped 
around the city. He went out and preached twice 
in the encampment. While preaching on Sunday 
morning, at Light-street, the boom of the cannon 
announced the approach of the British soldiery, and 
the meeting broke up in wild disorder, in the midst 
of the preacher's ejaculations " that the Lord would 
bless King George, convert him, and take him to heav- 
en, as they wanted no more of him." Gruber thus 
describes the scene : " Soon after the soldiers marched, 
and prepared to give the king's troops a warm saluta- 
tion and reception, and send as many of them as they 
could to heaven or hell, without praying the Lord to 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUEEK. 99 

convert them. I will not attempt to describe the 
glory of the clay and night of the bombardment, the 
bombs and rockets flying in their sublime beauty. 
Still there were persons, even in Baltimore, who did 
not like the war, and blamed Madison for it, saying 
that his administration was like the street called by 
his name, which began at the poor-honse, went by 
the jail, then passed the penitentiary, and ended on 
Gallows Hill." 

One of the members of his Church was killed in 
the battle, and buried with the honors of war. He 
was pained with the military display which he wit- 
nessed at this funeral, and remarked, that he " would 
rather be buried with the honors of Lazarus the beg- 
gar than to have soldiers shoot into his grave, as 
though they wanted to kill him again, and then fire 
upward, after his spirit, as though they wanted to kill 
that too." 

Previous to the breaking out of the late war he 
preached a fourth of July sermon, which is so charac- 
teristic of the man, and his style of preaching, that 
we give the substance of it to our readers. His text 
was John viii, 36: "If the Son, therefore, shall 
make you free, ye shall be free indeed." He thus 
introduces the subject: 



100 LIPE OF JACOB aRUBER. 

*' The word preached by our Lord himself had not 
the same effect in all j^laces. In some places he could 
not (or did not) do many miracles, because of their 
unbelief. The apostle saith : ' The word preached did 
not profit them, .not being mixed with faith in them 
that heard it.' The apostles (and their preaching) 
were the savor of death unto death to some, and the 
savor of life unto life to others. When our Lord 
spoke the words of our text there was a mixed multi- 
tude present, friends and enemies, serious and critical, 
caviling and opposing hearers. He had spoken dif- 
ferent things, suitable to and necessary for his hearers 
to hear and understand. He spoke of his Father hav- 
ing taught and sent him to speak and do what he did, 
and adds : ' The Father hath not left me alone ; for I 
do always those things that please him. As he spake 
these words many believed on him.' Then follow 
the words of our choice : 

" ' Then said Jesus to those which believed on 
him ' — ^looking unto him, believing in him, and com- 
ing unto him, frequently imply the same thing ; we 
must believe in, look and come unto him, if we would 
be saved by him. 

" 'If ye continue in my word :' we must first receive 
the ingrafted word, as it is called, before w^e can con- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 101 

tiiiue in it; hear, and obey it: then hold it fast, con- 
tinue therein ; try onr experience and enjoyment by 
it; let it be the rule of our faith and practice; live by 
it, etc., etc. 

" 'Then are ye my disciples indeed.' A disciple is 
a scholar, a learner, a follower, and Christ proposes 
himself as a master, a teacher, and an example. 
We become disciples when we deny ourselves, come to 
Christ, enter his school, learn of him to be wise, meek, 
and lowly in heart, not in appearance only, in the 
head, superficially, etc., but deep learning, not high ; 
deep humility, genuine piety. A scholar must not 
have his own way, learn where he pleases, and spend 
his time in looking at pictures ; he must be under the 
discipline of his master. Christ saith : ' Take my 
yoke upon you, and learn,' etc. To -be disciples in- 
deed requires more than a beginning to learn, or to fol- 
low. There must be a progress, a continuance, till 
the language, the art, or the science is attained. The 
scholar that becomes indolent ceases to learn, breaks 
the rules of the school, is rebellious, etc. ; must be cor- 
rected, and expelled if he does not reform. We con- 
tinue disciples of Christ w^hile we obey and follow 
him. ' Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I com- 
mand you ;' reverse this, and w^e are his enemies 



102 LIFE OF JACOB GPwUBER. 

when we break his commands. 'He that is not for 
me is against me.' The disciple may be as his Mas- 
ter and Lord, have his mind, his spirit, and walk as 
he walked. He has left us an example that we should 
follow his steps. The disciples were first called 
Christians at Antioch. They were like their Lord in 
spirit, in self denial, in holiness of life and conversa- 
tion. All around them might take knowledge of them 
that they had been with Jesus, and were sent by him 
to speak and do as they did. The apostle Paul re- 
proves some professing Christians because they had 
privileges, grace afforded, opportunities, and time 
sufficient to have been fathers, teachers, etc., yet 
they had need of milk, the food and instruction of 
children. They were not able to bear strong meat ; 
so far from being able to teach otliers tliey liad need 
of being taught the first principles of the oracles of 
God, and were unskillful in the word of righteous- 
ness ; they were babes, and not of fall age. The Lord 
have mercy on such. 

" ' And ye shall know the truth.' God our Sav- 
iour will have all men to be saved, and to come 
unto the knowledsfe of the truth. Salvation is free 

o 

for all, since the grace of God that bringeth sal- 
vation hath appeared unto all men. The Lord 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEU. 103 

in his plan of salvation requires ns to come to 
the knowledge of the truth ; he will not force any 
to the truth. 'No; man need not expect the grace 
of God to save him unless he obeys its teachings, 
which is, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and 
to live soberly, righteously, and godl}- in this present 
world. Jesus Christ is the truth and the way, and 
through him we have access, and can come to God 
the Father. Hence Jesus says : ' Come unto me 
and I will give you rest.' This is eternal life : to 
know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he 
hath sent. The apostle writes in an alarming man- 
ner to the Corinthians : ' Awake to righteousness, 
and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of 
God : I speak this to your shame.' They abounded 
in other knowledge, in gifts, in utterance, etc., and 
were puffed up ; but they were lacking in the knowl- 
edge of God. They knew not his reconciling love 
shed abroad in their hearts; that Christ was in 
them ; or did not enjoy deep communion with God, 
or feel and live under the sanctifying influences of 
his Hol}^ Spirit. This it was their privilege to know, 
to enjoy. Their ignorance of this was their shame. 

" ' And the truth shall make you free.' The ex- 
periii^eutal knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus 



104 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

shall make you free from ignorance, from tlie guilt, 
misery, and death which sin and error has brought 
into the world or into tlie Church. Those who do 
not obtain this knowledge and freedom are exposed 
to the greatest danger. Read an awful passage in 
point, 2 Thess. ii, 10-12 : ' Because they received not 
the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And 
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, 
that they should believe a lie : that they all might 
be damned who believed not the truth, but had 
pleasure in unrighteousness.' Mark this solemn dec- 
laration. These persons heard the truth, they had 
it in reach ; it was in their power to believe it, to 
receive it, and to be saved or made free by it. But 
they did not love it; they loved error or darkness 
more than light or truth ; tliey closed their eyes 
against the light, and neglected their salvation ; re- 
fused to work out their own salvation with fear and 
trembling. Thus, as a prophet saitli, they have 
chosen their own wa3^s, (not to learn and walk in 
the truth,) and their soul delighteth in their abomina- 
tions. God saith : ^ I also will choose their delusions, 
and will bring their fears upon them.' Isa. Ixvi, 4. 
Thus it is that many believe a lie, plead for sin, 
have pleasure in unrighteousness, fill up the measure 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 105 

of their iniquities, and sink to damnation. But let 
us return to our text. 

"'They answered him, We be Abraham's seed" — • 
they^ those Jews who lieard our Lord speak in sncli 
a manner to those who believed on him ; not they 
who had become his disci j3les — " and were never in 
bondage to any man : how sayest thou, Ye sliall be 
made free V " It is astonishing how they could speak 
so to our Lord. They must have known that their 
fathers had been in bondage, and that they were 
then under tribute to the Eomans, and, of course, 
were not free. Strange to tell, many in our day and 
generation imitate those Jews. Speak to them, espe- 
cially on this day, about obtaining liberty, or being 
made free, and they will readily and loudly exclaim, 
We are free Americans and no slaves, and were never 
in bondage to any man ! Tliey might remember 
that their fathers w^ere in bondage until they fonglit 
for and obtained their liberty ; and they ought not 
to forget that they may be very dependent even on 
man. They may read or hear articles of Lide- 
pendence, write their names on a paper to show that 
they are true Americans, and yet some of them may 
be more in debt than they are worth ; even if the 
old law was in force, which allowed a debtor to be 



106 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

sold, with his wife and children, and payment to be 
made, it would not discharge all their debts. Hence 
many who make a great sliow, and talk loud about 
their independence, are dependent on the night to 
run off from their creditors ; or taken and shut up, 
and dependent on windows with iron-bars for light 
in the day, where they don't like to be. Others, 
who seem to cut a figure and make a great dash, who 
are great patriots in talk, and wish to be thonglit great 
friends to their country, especially when an officer 
is wanting, would be as poor as many of their 
neighbors, if they would pay their just debts, re- 
store what they have wrongfully taken, and not 
oppress, distress, or defraud the poor, the ignorant, 
the laborer, and the traveler. 

" What is all this noise and parade about on the 
Fourth of July ? What means the mirth, the feasting, 
the expense, the shouts of some, the huzzas of the 
drunken, and nonsense of others? The secret, the 
spring of the mighty joy is, we are not under British 
tyranny or French oppression. We are not in bond- 
age to king or emperor. A query arises in my mind : 
Are we then like the locusts who have no king? or 
why do many go forth in bands to gambling, to ph^ys 
and balls, to barbecues, horse races, parties, etc., and 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 107 

worse. What a pity that Jesus is not oar king ; he 
would save iis from much hibor, from much misery, 
and from great expense. It is frequently said we are 
in a free country ! It is free to all that are not 
slaves ; but even in a free country there may be 
miserable slaves. Such are in our own country. 
May the Lord roll or wipe away this reproach from 
America ! 

" Jesus answered them, ' A^erily, verily, I say unto 
you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.' 
Here the wretched state of the nnregenerate man is 
brought to open view. Though not in bondage to 
any man, yet a complete slave of the worst kind, and 
in the most wretched condition. 'To whom ye 
yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are.' 
Taken captive by the devil at his will, slaves to pas- 
sion or appetite ; a free and independent American a 
slave to avarice, ambition, and intemperance. 

"The memorable day is come; great or little guns 
usher it in ; a whistle or a trumpet adds to the luster 
and glory of the opening morning. Who would not 
rise early to see the joy? Great preparations are 
made, and multitudes are gathering ! Great sights ! 
Common sense and good sense unite with judgment 
or sound reason to tell some they have no time or 



lOS LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

money to spend ; but custom and appetite runs away . 
with the man ; he must show that he is a true Ameri- 
can. He might be thankful to heaven for liis 
liberty at home, or among praying persons assembled 
to worship God ; but he wants something better and 
stronger to eat and drink than home or place of wor- 
ship affords. Our situation at this time, as a nation or 
country, calls aloud for fasting, humiliation, prayer, 
and intercession, not for feasting and intemperance. 
The wise man's words are proper at this time : ' It is 
better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to 
the house of feasting; the heart of the wise is in 
the house of mourning; but tlie heart of fools is in 
the house of mirth.' Ecclesiastes vdi, 2,4. 

" A heavy cloud hangs over our head ; it 
gathers blackness, and tlireatens judgments and 
punishments for our sins. ' Sin is a reproach to 
any people.' As a people we have taken great 
liberty to sin against God ; we have abused great 
mercy and neglected a great salvation ; we may 
expect a great chastisement and destruction if our 
reformation does not prevent it, and the Lord in 
mercy undertake for us, and preserve and save us. 

"Where is our dependence for safety, prosperity, 
or success, in peace or war, if an Almighty arm is 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 109 

engaged against us ? ' If God be for us who can be 
against us?' But will lie not be avenged on such a 
nation as this ? I do not hesitate to saj, I am more 
afraid of slavery and infidelity in our country than 
of the British and French. The sin of oppression 
prevails in many parts of this country. Men and 
women who, according to the constitution of the 
United States, have a right to be free, are held in 
chains of bondage, degraded dowm to ignorance and 
wretchedness, on a level with, or beneath the beasts 
that perish. The cry of blood arises from the ground ; 
God has an ear to hear it ; the poor and needy shall 
not always be forgotten. Blood, sweat, and tears 
testify against the cruel oppressor. The Judge is set 
against them. They cannot obtain mercy, because 
they showed no mercy. Infidels glory in their shame, 
and scatter firebrands, arrows, and death ; sport wath 
sacred things, and make a mock of sin. Many follow 
their pernicious ways, their evil and abominable 
practices. ' By swearing, and lying, and killing, and 
stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, 
and blood toucheth blood.' Hosea iv, 2. 

" And what is more distressing and alarming, re- 
ligion is at a low ebb ; there is too much lukewarm- 
ness and formality in the Church ; professors of 



110 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

religion conformed to the world in pride and vanity. 
The power of godliness is lacking in many. In 
some congregations no conversions or reformation 
for years past. ' Let the priests, the ministers of the 
Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let 
them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not 
thine heritage to reproach,' etc. Joel ii, 17. May 
the Lord revive his work ! 

" It is said some of your society have acted badly ; 
this is matter for lamentation ; but know this, that 
w4ien we have found them out we labored to reclaim 
them; if there was no reformation w^e expelled them 
from our Church. But why should some throw 
stones at the Methodists while they have many in 
their own Church to throw at ? Where is the denom- 
ination that does not suffer from this cause ? In some 
there are even ministers, elders, or official characters 
v^rho are unconverted, and impious, and worse ; at 
least, strangers to the spirit and mind of Christ, or 
else they would not be at the head or tail of feasts, 
and balls, parties, etc., and drink and associate with 
drunkards, etc. 'Evil communications corrupt good 
manners.' 

" There is a great talk about war ; many comfort 
themselves on a recollection of past favors and pro- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEU. Ill 

tection; when we were but few and weak we con- 
rjuered our enemies, the enemies of our country 
or liberties. But it ought to be remembered our 
cause was good ; we had many praying, God-fearing 
leaders or rulers. A Washington ought never to be 
forgotten ; he had his hours for retirement and devo- 
tion, and was a firm believer in Jesus Christ, the 
Captain of our salvation. His plans were crowned Avith 
success. The Lord gave us victory. Honor to the 
general ! he was the glory of his country. But glory 
to the God he worshiped ! May we fear and obey 
him ! What can we promise ourselves with compa- 
nies of profane soldiers, and infidel swearing officers 
at their head, as too many of them are ? May the 
Lord undertake for us, and save our country. Mark 
the spirit that prevails in our country at celebrations 
of Independence. Is it not the spirit that works in 
the children of disobedience ? Many eat and drink 
toasts till they can scarcely get up. Some must be 
carried home ; others stagger along from side to side ; 
not able to navigate the highway, they fall and wallow- 
in the mire, are lodged where they could not get their 
dog to lie. Others feel strong, are for war on the 
spot, abuse their friends, break each other's bones, 
bite, or black each other's eyes, boast of their 



112 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

wisdom, honor, riches, or liberty, which are all 
scarce articles with them, almost out of their, 
reach. 

" However, they have kept the Fourth of July like 
true Americans. But where is the truth of their 
boast and liberty? "You must pardon me for abus- 
ing you or speaking as I did ; I was drunk or in a pas- 
sion." This is the plea ; but this doubles the crime. 
Keep sober, subdue your passion, maintain your 
liberty, or you are ruined. For whosoever com- 
mitteth sin is the servant, or, as it may properly be 
rendered, the slave of sin. However wise or 
learned, however rich, however honorable the 
votaries of pleasure, whosoever committeth sin is 
a slave ; his knowledge will augment his misery, 
his honor disgrace him in hell, his riches enhance his 
damnation. The rust (or abuse) of his gold and sil- 
ver eat his flesh like fire. All pleasure gone forever. 

" ' But,' says one, ' I don't profess religion.' What 
then is your profession ? a sinner, a slave, a rebel 
against the King of kings ? glory not in this. It is 
your sin and condemnation not to have religion in 
the accepted time, and to die without it will secure 
you a complete eternal damnation. 

"Fear and tremble. The greatest tyrant, from 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEK. 113 

Pharaoh down to the most cruel slaveholder, has let 
his slave go free at death, sometimes in some cases 
before death. But the slaves of sin and Satan must 
live in chains of darkness and death, everlasting starv- 
ation and desperation, in everlasting fire prepared 
for the devil and his angels. It was never prepared 
for men; they fitted themselves for it. It was their 
own choice. Christ saith in our text, ' The servant 
abideth not in the house forever ; but the Son abideth 
ever.' 

"The bond person shall be cast out, and have no 
inheritance ; he can't abide in the world, he is cast 
out of the Church. ' The ungodly shall not stand in 
the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the 
righteous.' Psalm i, 5. They shall not enter, nor 
abide in heaven. The Judge will say : ' Take the 
wicked and unprofitable servant, bind him hand and 
foot, and cast him into outer darkness ; there shall be 
weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew xxii, 13 ; 
XXV, 30. But Hhe Son abideth ever' in his inher- 
itance; Head of his Church ; Lord of lords, and King 
of kings. But ' Christ as a son over his own house : 
whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, 
and the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end.' 
Hebrews iii, 6. The Lord has promised to ' make 



114 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

him that overcometh a pillar in the temple of God, 
and he shall go no more out.' They shall live for- 
ever in the house not made with hands, eternal in 
the heavens. 'If the Son, therefore, shall make you 
free, ye shall be free indeed.' 

" The disciples of Moses, the servant of God, had 
to bear a heavy yoke of ordinances, a grievous bur- 
den, more than they or their fathers were able to 
bear. But Christ has blotted out ' the handwriting 
of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary 
to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his 
cross.' Col. ii, 14. Now, as the Son of God is lifted 
up, he draws or invites all men to look unto him for 
salvation, for liberty. 

" ' The law was given by Moses ;' but the law 
worketh wrath : *for by the law is the knowledge of 
sin.' The law is weak through the flesh. It cannot 
give life ; it pronounces sentence of death on trans- 
gressors ; but grace and truth came by our Lord 
Jesus Christ. ' He bare our sins in his own body on 
the tree.' ' Christ hath redeemed us from the curse 
of the law, being made a curse for us.' Gal. iii, 13. 
' Jesus Christ hath abolished death, and hath brought 
life and immortality to light through the Gospel.' 
2 Tim. i, 10. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 115 

"Now liberty is proclaimed to the captives; sin- 
ners are made free from sin b}^ the Son of God ; free 
from wretchedness and condemnation. The true 
penitent or sincere seeker is cr} ing, ' O Lord, I be- 
seech thee, deliver my soul.' Psa. cxvi, 5. ' God be 
merciful to me a sinner.' Luke xviii, 13. He prays 
and groans, * O wretched man that I am ! who shall de- 
liver me ?' Eom. vii, 24. The Lord is nigh unto such, 
and rich in mercy unto all that call upon him. 'Who- 
soever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be 
saved.' Romans x, 13. A soul engaged in this way 
obtains deliverance. The dungeon shakes, the chains 
fall off. Casting every care upon Him, venturing all 
npon him, believing in him with a heart unto right- 
eousness, the believer is set at liberty ; he is a child 
of God by faith in Jesus Christ. There is now no 
condemnation unto him. Those who read the last 
part of the seventh chapter to the Romans, ought to 
read the fii*st part of the eighth chapter before they 
stop. After the state of a person under the law, in 
wretchedness and condemnation, struggling for de- 
liverance, is brought to view, then the state and 
enjoyment of one under the Gospel in grace is 
pointed out, free from condemnation ; the law of the 
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made him free from 



116 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

the law of sin and death. The Son has not only 
made them free, but blessed them with wisdom and 
power, ' that the righteousness of the law miglit be 
fulfilled in them.' Eom. viii. And an apostle ex- 
horts them to ' stand fast in the liberty wherewith 
Christ hath made us free.' Gal. v, 1. Free indeed ; 
tongue cannot express the joy of the soul made free 
indeed ; 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' The 
spirit rejoices in Christ ; the soul doth magnify the 
Lord ; salvation is the joyful sound, the song, etc. 
Jesus has the gloiy. What means the noise and 
shouts of joy ! Has a person found a piece of silver, 
a sheep, or something that was lost ? Yes, more than 
silver, or anything this world can afford ; ' a pearl of 
great price,' ' the white stone,' ' the one thing need- 
ful,' the kingdom of heaven. What mean the songs 
of joy and shouts of liberty? The noise is heard afar 
off. It is the celebration of independence of true 
Christians made free indeed ; no longer dependent 
on Satan and sin for pleasure and happiness in sensual 
delights, nor on the world for riches and honor, 
they are rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom ; ' an 
inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that 
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them.' 
1 Pet. i, 4. They have the honor that is from above. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 11 Y 

Though they do not drink toasts and give cheers 
according to fashion, yet they drink of the well of 
salvation, the river of life, the streams of grace. Their 
hearts are cheered, their souls are on the wing for 
glory. 

"What means the gathering crowd, persons from 
east, west, north, and south, from far and near, male 
and female ? Is there a horse-race, or a feast ? 'No, 
but there are some running the race for eternal 
life. They eat and drink with mournful joy and glad 
hearts, in remembrance of Him who redeemed them 
with his blood, and raised them from slaves to }3rinces, 
and from beggars to thrones. O glory to God! ho- 
sannah in the highest ! their hope is full of immortal- 
ity, their joy is full, their souls are full of glory. 
They are not drunk ; they can speak the words of 
soberness, and are ready to give an answer to every 
one that asketh a reason of the hope that is in them, 
with meekness and fear, etc. They know that they 
have passed from slavery to liberty, from death to 
life, feel the powers of the world to come, and claim, 
in virtue of their birth, a mansion in the skies. 

"This is a real, heartfelt enjoyment, such as the 
world can never give, nor the cattle on a thousand 
hills afford. The world, with all its pleasures and 



118 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEli. 

treasures, can give but little satisfaction, a poor mo- . 
mentary delight or enjoyment. What happiness is 
there in gatherings to see and be seen ? Is tliere 
more happiness in eating at a feast, and paying dollars, 
than eating wholesome food at home, and saving mon- 
ey for necessary or charitable purposes? Does it 
make the soul truly happy to drink many and large 
toasts, and give many loud cheers ? Does it make a 
person truly v^^ise to hear the song of fools and huzzas 
of the drunken ? Does it give more real pleasure to 
the mind to hear a great gun than it would to hear a 
pop-gun ? ' Yanity of vanities, all is vanity, saith the 
preacher.' 

^'Cannot a man be a true friend to his country with- 
out following after lying vanities, and drinking intox- 
icating and poisonous draughts, in the fashionable way 
of wishing health ? Must he ' run to excess of riot,' or 
fall down and wallow in the mire, to celebrate his inde- 
pendence? Must a person be cursed all over, (and 
that by persons who are a curse to a country,) over 
tables and bowls, because he will not drink whisky 
with drunkards, and keep company with swearers and 
gamblers, waste his substance and time, neglect his 
business and his salvation ? It is surely far better to 
fear God, and fast, and pray for our country and for 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 119 

all men, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 
in all godliness and honesty. 

" In conclusion : If we would enjoy liberty, peace, 
and happiness, we must, in the first place, make peace 
with God, agree with our adversary, submit oui*- 
selves unto him, humble ourselves under his mighty 
hand, and he will lift us up ; we shall then enjoy his 
protection. 'If God be for us, who can be against 
us.' 'Who will harm us if we be followers of that 
which is good.' In the next place, we must follow 
peace with all men ; as far as in us lies, have peace 
with all. Then the God of peace will be with us, and 
a wall of fire around us; glory shall dwell in our land, 
and Jesus reign King of nations, as well as King of 
saints and Prince of peace. Happy deliverance, 
thrice blessed freedom from war and bloodshed, con- 
tention and strife, from every evil work ! Freed from 
enemies, free indeed ; from corruption, from labor, 
from suffering and sorrow, where the wicked cease 
from troubling and the weary are forever at rest. 
Not a wave of trouble shall roll across their peaceful 
breasts ; all tears wiped away, they shine like the sun 
in the kingdom of God forever. May the Lord bless 
us with this freedom, and crown us with his glory. 
And to him be all the glory. Amen," 



120 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

He thus describes a strange procession which he^ 
met between Harrisburgh and Woodstock : "After the 
war was over, I passed a strange procession. I had 
passed different droves before, but never such a one 
as this. It was composed of two or three dozen of 
colored men chained together with a long heavy chain, 
and a company of women and children, walking loose 
along in the procession. They looked sorrowful and 
pitiful. I gave a glance at them as they passed, and 
looked sharp at three white men who were driving 
them. As I passed them, I said, ' Hail ! Columbia, 
happy land ; is this free trade and sailors' rights V 
At this they looked cross and replied, ' Yes, we are 
Republicans.' " 

As pastor of the colored people he enjoyed himself 
remarkably well, and was often amused by their 
peculiarities. He allowed them perfect freedom in 
the expression of their religious views, and at the love- 
feasts and general class-meetings many of their white 
brethren would be present, more, it is to be feared, 
out of curiosity than for the purpose of deriving any 
spiritual benefit. The colored people are proverbially 
superstitious, not more so, however, than others of the 
uneducated class among the whites ; they place great 
reliance upon dreams and visions, and among Gru- 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEli. 121 

ber's flock there were some wlio had a particular fond- 
ness for these mental exercises. Of sucli importance 
did they consider a dream, especially if it liad a relig- 
ions bearing, that they would relate it in meeting. 
At one of the speaking meetings alluded to, a colored 
brother rose, immediately after one of the sisters who 
had related her dream, and said : 

"Mass'r preacher, may I tell you de vision I had 
de oder night ?" , 

" O yes ! speak on, Brother Joe.'^ 

"Well, massa, I dreamed I saw Jacob's ladder 
leanin' up aginst de sky, and I climbed him to git 
up to heaven. When I got to de toppermost round, 
I found it was too short to reach up to de gate. I 
'eluded to splice him. When dat was done, I begun 
at de bottermost round, and went up to de top of de 
toppermost round, and den from de bottermost round 
of de splice up to de toppermost round, but it was 
too short yet. Den I come down and splice liim 
agin. Den I went up from the bottermost round to 
de toppermost, and from de bottermost round of de 
first splice to de toppermost round, and from de bot- 
termost round of de second splice to de toppermost 
round, and I tell you, massa, it was jist a little too 
short yet. I could see into de gate, and dar de heav- 



122 LIFK OK JACOB G RUBER. 

enly company was marcliin' along de bank of de 

river of life, and I saw de angels, and heard de halle- 

« 
luiali song, and saw de golden streets. Being some- 
what snpple in de jints, I thought I could jump clar 
into de heavenly kingdom from de toppermost round. 
So I give a spring, and what do you tink, massa, was 
de circumstance? I tell you. Lor bless your soul, I 
got de blamedest fall I ever got in mj' life. If I can't 
git to heaven no oder way, bless you, honey, I'll not 
try to git dar agin by Jacob's ladder." 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 123 



CHAPTEE Y. 

Opposition to a City Station — Appointed to Carlisle Circuit — Appointed 
to the District — Great Times in the Mountains — Model Professors — 
Albright and his People — An honest Dutchman judged — United 
Brethren Church — Opposition Lin© — Bishop Asbury's Wish — Gru- 
ber's Sermon at the Washington Camp-meeting — National Sins — 
Address to Masters and Slaves — Displeasure of Slaveholders — Letter 
from Eev. S. G. Eosael — Warrant issued for his Arrest — Arrested 
at Quarterly Meeting — Gave Security for his Appearance at Court — 
Indicted by the Grand Jury for inciting Slaves to Mutiny and Ke- 
bellion. 

The conference of 1815 was held in the city of 
Baltimore, and was drawing near its close when the 
intelligence came to Grnber's ear that he was to be 
returned to the city station. Feeling, as he ex- 
pressed it, that "his work was done in Baltimore, 
and "that he did not wish to do it over again," he 
hurried to the bishop and besought him to change 
his appointment. He had another reason, he said, 
for not wishing to stay in the city ; he had been, to 
use his own language, " like an ox under the yoke, 
like a slave chained to the oar, and almost at every 
one's beck and call, treated like a dog ; not a pet one 
allowed to eat the crumbs which fell from the mas- 



124 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

ter's table." Though treated as a dog, he says, "I 
was not a lazy dog, nor a dumb dog, nor a greedy 
dog, nor a stray dog that could not find a home." 

When the appointments were announced his name 
stood in connection with Carlisle circuit, and he was 
thus happily relieved of tlie drudgery of a city 
preacher. He had not made many rounds when, in 
consequence of the illness of the presiding elder, 
Hemphill, he was appointed by Bishop Asbury to 
the Carlisle district. This district was large, and in- 
cluded the eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains. 
The quarterly-meetings and camp-meetings were 
largely attended, and there were numerous conver- 
sions at each. In describing the latter Gruber said : 
" The shout of a king was in tlie camp ; great was the 
power, and deep was the work of grace in the heart 
and the congregation ; glorious were the times of 
refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The hills 
and mountains echoed the sound, and the valleys 
were filled with the glory. Old persons wept tears of 
joy, and children sung and shouted Hosanna fa the 
highest !" In speaking of the young converts of 
that time, he remarked : " They took advice, and re- 
nounced the vain pomp, glory, and fashions of the 
world, and would not follow or be led by them. The 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 125 

young people did not grow so much in the head then 
as they do now ; but they grew more in grace and in 
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
There was less backsliding, and a greater increase in 
the membership. " We had," said he, " no opposi- 
tion line of camp-meetings running then ; the German 
Methodists, as they were then called, united with us, 
preached in German, and shouted with us in English." 
The following account of Albright and his people 
is given by Gruber in a letter to Dr. Bond : '' Jacob 
Albright was a German, a good man, very zealous, 
headstrong, but not headlong. His name was nut 
so bright in German as in English, bordering in its 
signification on break or broken. Some say there 
is nothing in a name, but I think there is great 
meaning in some. This I know, Jacob Albright w^as 
a Methodist in Lancaster county, Pa. He belonged 
to a class in ISTew Holland, and had license to exhort. 
When he obtained this license, such was his zeal to 
do good that he went out and preached, and per- 
formed the rites of baptism and marriage. He de- 
sired to be employed by the conference as a German 
missionary; but that body did not think proper to 
comply with his request. Believing that the Lord 
hod called him to preach among the Germans, he 



126 LIFE OF JACOB GRITBER. 

set np for himself, remarking that he would not 
go with Boehm and Otterbine, and other German 
preachers, as they had no discipline, and were like a 
rope of sand. He adopted the Methodist discipline, 
and traveled at large, receiving members into his 
Church and forming classes. He got some zealous 
young men to help him. When his Church was 
fully organized the members elected and ordained 
him, and he. in turn ordained his preachers. He 
had a singular idea about secret prayer, and believed 
that the most profitable way was to pray aloud, 
which he did ; and as he had a strong voice, his 
secret prayers were heard all over the neighborhood. 
I never knew disciples to follow their master more 
fully than his did. They imitated him, particularly 
in praying ; and if I heard any of them pray, without 
knowing them or seeing them, I could at once tell 
that they were Albrights. Some of his young 
])reachers in a short time blew out in the extraor- 
dinary exercise of their lungs. After his death his 
people changed their name, and are now known as 
Evangelicals." 

One of the preachers of this denomination lived 
in a part of Western Pennsylvania, and owned a 
grist-mill. On Sunday he went round in the neigh- 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 127 

borhood to preach. From some cause or other liis 
mind gave way, and he was subject to strange hal- 
lucinations. He imagined himself to be the judge 
of the world, and solemnly set apart a day for the 
performance of that work. He erected his throne in 
the woods not far from the mill. As no one knew 
of his movements but his miller, that personage de- 
termined to watch them. Jacob Fulweiler was the 
name of this preacher. He had in the same section 
of country two competitors in the milling business, 
whom he thought were not exactl}^ as honest as 
they should be. At length the day of judgment 
came and the judge ascended his throne, and in loud 
but solemn tones he exclaimed : " Peter Schmidt ! 
Peter Schmidt ! Peter Schmidt ! come to the schudg- 
ment !" After a short pause he said ; " Well, Peter, 
you have a mill you knows, and de peoples say you 
dakes too much toll." Pausing again, he then an- 
swers for Peter : 

" Yes, ray Lord, I does take too much toll ; but 
den you knows de times is hard, and de water is low 
and de taxes is high." 

" Peter Schmidt, take your place on de left among 
de goats." 

The next summons was to John Lang. "Shoij 



128 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

Lang, come to scliudgment. You keeps a mill 
you knows. Does you not dake too much tolls, 
Shon?" 

" Yes, Lord, I does ; but I has a large family, and 
have to pay de breachers, and de times is hard." 

" Shon Lang, stand on de left mit Peter Schmidt 
and de goats." 

After judgment was passed upon his neighbors he 
then summoned himself '' Jacob Fulweiler, now 
you comes to scliudgment. Does you not dake too 
much tolls at your mill ?" 

After a short pause he responded gravel}^ : " Yes, 
my Lord, I fears I does dake too much tolls. You 
know de times is hard, and de water low and de 
taxes high ; but den I gives some of de stealings to 
de boor beoples." 

" Yery well, Jacob Fulweiler, you may go on de 
right among de sheep ; but it's a very tight squeeze, 
I dell you." 

Gruber thus refers to the formation of the United 
Brethren Church: " Li the year 1815 the Germans 
had what they called a General Conference in 
Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pa., com- 
posed of fourteen preachers. " I was at it, but not 
in it, and was acquainted with ten of the number. 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 129 

They made a Discipline, and organized themselves 
into a Church. Being all Germans, they labored for 
some years among that people according to their 
original plan ; but when some English members and 
preachers joined them, it was not long until they 
found out that their society was as old as the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, if not older. Many 
who were called members were opposed to being 
classed, or having their names on a class-paper, and 
for their accommodation they adopted the plan of 
open doors for class-meetings and love-feasts. De- 
termined not to be bigoted and contracted as the 
Methodists, they give their meetings the same name 
as ours, but conduct them differently. They work 
with their tools, take our patterns, and alter them 
to suit their views and fancy, without any kindness 
to us or credit to them." 

The bishops about this time desired to have Gru- 
ber go out as a missionary among the Germans ; but 
not wishing, as he expressed it, " to run an opposi- 
tion line," or come in contact with the Albrights 
and United Brethren, who professed to preach 
Methodist doctrines, he declined. Bishop Asbury 
was particularly anxious about organizing a mission 
iamong the Germans, and in a letter to Gruber from. 



130 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

Chambersburgli, a short time before his death, he 
says : " Let it be known that one of the grand acts of 
my life was the organization of a capital mission 
amoncr the American Germans." 

While Grnber was presiding elder of the Carlisle 
district, the most remarkable event perhaps in his 
life occurred. It has already appeared to the reader 
that, like all the Methodist preachers of that day 
in the slaveholding states, he bore testimony against 
the evils of slavery. The rough thunderbolt manner 
however in which he denounced wicked masters 
sometimes excited their ire. The event to which we 
allude grew out of a sermon preached by him at a 
camp-meeting held in Washington county, Maryland, 
on the sixteenth of August, 1818. Though presiding 
elder of the district, he had not the charge of this 
meeting, and was simply there as a visiting minister. 
The sermon was delivered on Sabbath evening ; and 
to show that there was nothing premeditated in it, 
or that he had the least collusion with any one, white 
or black, he tried hard to persuade a brother minis- 
ter to preach in his place. As no substitute could be 
procured, it became his duty to preach. As usual, 
when he preached on sucli occasions, there was a 
large attendance, and the whole force of the encamp- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 131 

meut was out to hear liim. There were present four 
or five tliousand wliites aud between three and four 
hundred blacks. His prayer was unusually fervent, 
abounding in petitions for the conversion, happiness, 
security, and protection of his congregation. 

His text was Proverbs xiv, 34: "Eighteousness 
exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any 
people." 

His sermon was divided after the old style of Meth- 
odist preaching, being a simple textual arrangement, 
consisting of a question and a declaration. On the 
question, " What kind of righteous7iess exalts a na- 
tion f he noticed : 

1. '' Right principles, sound doctrine, sentimental 
righteousness.'*' Under the head of sound doctrines lie 
noticed the fall and original depravity of man, his 
redemption by Christ, and the doctrines of repent- 
ance, faith, and holiness, together with rewards and 
punishments in a future life. He remarked that a 
belief in these truths would make the head right, and 
would make a person or a nation upright, and dis- 
tinguish them from the ignorant and superstitious, 
the infidel and the heathen. Sound doctrines would 
not only affect the head but the heart, producing ex- 
perimental righteousness. Upon all such the Spirit 



132 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

of the Lord would come, which would be a Spirit of 
grace, peace, adoption, love and liberty ; not a spirit 
of fear, but of power and of a sound mind, more 
excellent than the spirit of this world. Such an 
infusion of the Spirit would make the heart right, and 
cleanse the inside of a person or a nation ; wliile those 
who have not the spirit of Christ were none of his. 

2. " This righteousness," he said, " would not only- 
correct the head and the heart, but it would control 
the conduct and produce practical righteousness. 
The life would be right, v/ithout which all, sentiments, 
notions, experience, and professions of righteousness 
would prove of no value in the dying hour and at the 
bar of God. According to the Scriptures, it was made 
known that ' in every nation he that feareth God 
and worketh righteousness is accepted of him,' ' He 
that doeth righteousness is righteous even as God is 
righteous ;' and if it is known that God is righteous, 
so every one that doeth righteously is born of him 
and belongs to the heavenly family. The word of 
the Lord declares that ' the righteous shall eat of 
the fruit of their doings;' and if they are faithful 
unto death they shall have a crown of life, an.d share 
in the triumphs of the first resurrection." He 
summed up this branch of his subject by remark- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 133 

ing that in these particulars were comprised all that 
was necessary for him to say on the subject of 
national and personal righteousness, and that who- 
ever lacks in either of these important particulars 
was not scripturally, experimentally, and practically 
righteous. 

The second division of his subject contained the 
following declaration : " Sin is a reproach to any 
people, nation, or person. Sin is the transgression of 
the law, and the way of transgressors is hard. He 
that comraitteth sin is the servant of sin, and sin is a 
reproach to any people, no matter what their position ; 
and to any person, no matter what his rank. If they 
are law-makers, it is a reproach to them to break the 
laws they make at a great expense to the public ; 
rulers, magistrates, and others, whose duty it is to 
execute the laws, and who should be a terror to evil- 
doers, and a praise to them that do well, should not 
bring a reproach upon themselves by breaking these 
laws. What! a drunken magistrate to administer 
solemn oaths to others, and be a profane swearer 
himself? Shame on him, even if he were a judge. 

'* Sin is a reproach to the rich, who have many 
advantages, and ought to be thankful and religious 
stewards, so that they may be enabled to give a good 



134 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

account of their stewardship. It is a reproach to the 
poor, who have but little in this world, and ought to 
lay up treasure in heaven and be rich in faith, giving 
glory to God. It is a reproach to parents, to fathers 
and mothers, who should set a good example to their 
children, that they and their house might serve the 
Lord. It is a reproach to the aged, who are on the 
brink of the grave, and ought to be in preparation for 
death. It is a reproach to the young, who should 
remember their Creator in the days of their youth, 
and seek the Lord early, that they may be saved 
from evil habits, which lay a foundation for misery 
and destruction. 

" Sin is a reproach to professors of religion. To 
name the name of Christ, and not depart from 
iniquity ; to profess in words that they know God, 
and at the same time in works deny him ; to plead for 
Christ and advocate the cause of Satan, is an incon- 
sistency without a parallel, and a hypocrisy unpar- 
donable. The Lord says, ' Cry aloud and spare not ; 
show my people their transgressions, and the house of 
Jacob their sins.' All the righteousness or religion 
that some people have is, alas for them! only found 
in their prayer-book, a mere form or ceremony 
without the power ; and their devotion is carried on 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 135 

by a kind of moral machineiy. The organ sings 
praise, and if a machine could be invented to pray 
with it would be an accommodation ; it would save 
the labor and trouble of reading prayers. 

" But tliere are what might be called national sins, 
which are a reproach. And first in the catalogue is 
the sin of infidelity, which consists in denying revela- 
tion, Christ, and religion, and also denying the power 
of godliness. The next is the sin of intemperance, 
fearfully prevalent especially among our national 
men. Tipphng, which leads to drunkenness, is 
frightfully common. AVe may safely calculate on a 
nation of drunkards if the common use of spirit- 
uous liquors is encouraged and continued. It is 
lamentable that many of our young men, and even 
boys, smoke and drink, sport, revel, and gamble, get 
drunk, and run fast to excess and riot. It would be 
an honor to them if they would learn sobriety. 
Then there is the sin of profanity. 'Because of 
swearing the land mourneth.' It is a great reproach 
to profane the name of the Lord and the Sabbath, and 
ordinances of his Church. What dependence can be 
placed in an oath of a person who, in common 
conversation, swears a score of oaths per day'^ 
Can such a man be a friend to his country who 



136 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

breaks the law of God and man? or can he be an 
honest man until he goes before a magistrate 
and pays the lawful fine for every profane oath 
uttered by him ? ' The way of transgressors is hard,' 
and if a man swears he ought to pay for it as the law 
demands. 

"The last national sin is slavery and oppression. 
This in particular is a reproach to the nation. Other 
nations who are under the yoke of despots are pitied, 
especially when they are ground down under the 
iron heel of oppression. This nation is happily 
delivered from such bondage. We live in a free 
country ; and that all men are created equal, and have 
inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pur- 
suit of happiness, we hold as self-evident truths. But 
there are slaves in our country, and their sweat, and 
blood, and tears declare them such. The voice of 
our brother's blood crieth. Is it not a reproach to a 
man to hold articles of liberty and independence in 
one hand and a bloody whip in the other, while a 
negro stands and trembles before him with his back 
cut and bleeding ? 

" There is a laudable zeal manifested in our coun- 
try to form Bible and missionary societies, to send 
the Scriptures and the Gospel to heathen nations. 



LIFE OF eTACOB GRUBEE. 137 

Would it not be well for some to be consistent, and 
instrnct the heathens at home in their kitchens, and 
let them hear the Gospel likewise ? What would 
heathen nations at a distance think if they were told 
that persons who gave liberally to send them the Bi- 
ble and the Gospel did not read, believe, or obey it 
themselves, or teach their own families to read that 
book, or allow them time to hear the Gospel of their 
salvation preached ? There is some difference even 
in this country. We Pennsylvanians think it 
strange, and it seems qnite curious to read in the 
public prints from some states an advertisement 
like this : ' For sale, a plantation, a house and lot, 
horses, cows, sheep, and hogs. Also, a number of 
negroes, men, women, and children, some very valu- 
able ones. Also, a pew in such and such a church.' 
Again : ' For sale, a likely young negro, who is an 
excellent waiter, sold for no fault, or else for want of 
employment.' These are sold for cash, for four, live, 
six, seven, or eight hundred dollars a head ; soul and 
body together, ranked with horses, hogs, etc. Look 
further and see, ' Fifty dollars reward, one hundred 
dollars reward, two hundred dollars reward.' What 
for ? Has an apprentice run away from his master ? 
No : perhaps a reward for him would be six cents. 



138 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

A man that ran off has probably gone to see his wife, 
or child, or relations, who have been sold and torn 
from him, or to enjoy the blessings of a free country 
and get clear of tyranny. In this inhuman traffic and 
cruel trade the most tender ties are torn asunder, and 
the nearest connections broken. That which God 
has joined together let not man pnt asunder. This 
solemn injunction is not regarded. Will not God be 
avenged on such a nation as this? 

" But some say, ' We use them well, and even bet- 
ter than they would use themselves if they were 
free.' Granted ; but what assurance have they that 
your children, or those to whom you may bequeath 
them, will use them as you do. May they not tyran- 
nize over them after you are dead and gone, and 
may not the slaves thus abused rise up and kill your 
children, their oppressors, and be hung for it, and all 
go to destruction together? The Lord have mercy 
on their souls! Such alarming and dreadful conse- 
quences may attend and follow this reproachful sin in 
our land and nation : 

' Is there not some chosen curse, 
Some secret thunder in the stores of heaven, 
Eed with uncommon wrath, to blast the wretch 
That traiRcks in the blood of souls 1' " 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 139 

Having delivered his message fully and freely to 
the masters, he then turned to the slaves, who 
were seated in the rear of the stand, and thus ad- 
dressed them : 

'' Of all people in the world yon ought to have 
religion ; you have most need of it, in order that you 
may enjoy some peace and happiness : there is no 
peace to the wicked. Some of you have good mas- 
ters. You ought to attend tc^ religious duties. Never 
be absent from family prayer when it is in your power 
to attend ; discharge your duty, and it will make 
your situation more agreeable here, and certainly 
hereafter. Some of you have cruel masters ; are 
slaves to them, slaves to sin, and slaves to the devil ; 
and if you die without religion, you will be slaves in 
hell, forever ^miserable, wretched, poor, and lost to 
all eternity. But if you repent and get converted, 
be made free from sin, serve the Lord faithfully unto 
death, however hard your situations may be in this 
world, your sufferings will soon be over, and you 
may have crowns and kingdoms in glory, where the 
wicked cease from troubling and every tear is dry, 
and be happy in heaven forever, while wicked mas- 
ters are turned into hell, and damned forever." 

Some of the slaveholders present were much dia- 



140 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

pleased at the sermon, and it was rumored that he 
would be arrested. He, however, continued to fill 
his appointments. A few weeks after the camp- 
meeting a warrant was issued for his arrest. lie 
received a letter from the Rev. S. G. Eoszel, dated 
Middletown, Oct. 11, from which we make the fol- 
lowing extract : 

"I rather suppose your enemies in Washington 
county will try all they can to injure you. I think 
you need not fear them. The God whose you are, 
and whom you serve, will, I trust, deliver you, and 
laugli to scorn the cruel power and machinations of 
your enemies. It will be a struggle between vice 
and virtue. I have seen Brother Pigman on the 
business, , and he has promised to interest on your 
behalf, should you be arrested. Lawyer Taney, 
the most influential and eminent barrister in Wash 
ington and Frederick. Should they sue the warrant 
on you, if the magistrate before whom you appear 
believes the prosecution to be malicious, or that 
there is no cause for action, he can at once dis- 
charge you ; if not, you must give bail for your 
appearance at court. A statement Brother Euhart 
has from Brother Pigman will show you your rights 
and privileges, of which, were I in your case, I would 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEB. 141 

avail myself; and in case of arrest, when I appeared 
before the court, remove the trial to Frederick 
connty. It will also show you how much they will 
be in your power, if on trial a*jury should determine 
in your favor. May the Lord be with you, and 
bless you in all things. I design, if I can, to meet 
you at your quarterly meeting at Washington ; and, 
if I can, to bring Brother Snethen with me, that in 
case they should there arrest you, we may be ready 
to assist you in the business." 

About two months after the issuing of the warrant 
he was arrested at a quarterly meeting in Williams- 
port. He went before a magistrate and gave the 
necessary security for his appearance at court. He 
was obliged to desist from his regular work, and 
sought the counsel of his lawyers, Messrs. Pigman 
and Roger B. Taney, now Chief Justice of the Su- 
preme Court of the United States. At the session of 
the court, which was held in Hagerstown, he pre- 
sented himself for trial. The case was submitted to 
the grand jury, who, after two weeks of labor, brought 
forth an indictment. 



112 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 



CHAPTER YI. 

Bill of Indictment — Opening of the Case — Examination of Witnesses in 
behalf of the State — Opening Address on behalf of the Defendant 
by Eoger B. Taney of Washington City — Examination of Witnesses 
for the Defense — Testimony of Eev. N. Snethen — Eev. J. Mason — 
Rev. J. Forrest — H. G. O'Neal — Mr. Long — Eev. L. Everhart — Eev. 
S. L. Davis — Jacob Bowlus — John Bo wins — Messrs. Brazier, Hunt, 
Bealer, Blake, Middlekauff, White, and Eeynolds — Eev. F. Stier — 
Eev. Stephen G. Eoszel — Eev. Abner Neal — Closing Argument for 
the Prosecution — Mr. Martin's Argument for the Defense — Argu- 
ment of Mr. Pigman, Counselor for the Defense — Mr. Taney concludes 
the Defense — Verdict of the Jury. 

The following is the bill of indictment found by the 
grand juiy of Washington county : 

CHARGE I. 
" State of Maryland, Washington county, to wit: 
"The jurors for the State of Maryland, for the 
body of "Washington county, upon their oath present : 
That Jacob Gruber, late of said county, clerk, being 
•I person of an evil, seditious, and turbulent disposi- 
tion, and maliciously intending and endeavoring to 
disturb the tranquillity, good order, and government 
of the State of Maryland, and to endanger the persons 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 143 

and property of a great number of the quiet and 
peaceable citizens of said state, on the IGth day of 
August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and eighteen, at the county aforesaid, unlaw- 
fully, wickedly, and maliciously intended to instigate 
and incite divers negro slaves, the property of divers 
citizens of the said state, to mutiny and rebellion, for the 
disturbance of the peace of said state, and to the great 
terror and peril of the peaceable citizens thereof. And 
that the said Jacob Gruber, in prosecution of his said 
wicked intention and purpose, and for the effecting 
and accomplishment thereof, on the said sixteenth day 
of August, with force and arms at the county afore- 
said, unlaiofully^ wickedly^ maliciously^ and advisedly 
did endeavor to stir up^ provoke^ instigate^ and incite 
divers negro slaves^ whose names to the jurors afore- 
said are as yet unknown, the property of divers citi- 
zens of the said state, and inhabiting in the county 
aforesaid, with force and arms, unlawfully, seditiously, 
and wickedly to commit acts of mutiny and rebellion 
in the said state, in contempt and in open violation 
of the laws, good order, and government of this state, 
to the evil and pernicious example of all others in 
like case offending, and against the peace, government, 
and dignity of the state." 



144 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

"CHARGE 11. 

"And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths, do 
farther present, tliat the said Jacob Gruber, being 
such person as aforesaid, and unlawfully, wickedly, 
and maliciously designing, intending, and endeavor- 
ing again to disturb the peace, tranquillity, good 
order and government of the said state ; and further, 
to endanger the persons and property of the quiet 
and peaceable citizens of said state, and to incite a 
great number of other negro slaves, the property of 
divers citizens of the State of Maryland, to disobedi- 
ence, insubordination, and rebellion, to and against 
their masters, and to break the peace of the said 
state upon their said masters, to the great peril, 
annoyance, and disturbance of the quiet and peace- 
able citizens of said state, afterward, to wit : on the 
day and year aforesaid, with force and arms, at 
Washington county aforesaid, unlawfully, wickedly, 
maliciously and advisedly, did endeavor to stir up, 
])rovoke, instigate and incite a great number of the 
last mentioned negro slaves, whose names to the jurors 
aforesaid are as yet unknown, the property of divers 
citizens of said state, and inhabiting in the said 
county aforesaid, with force and arms, unlawfully, 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 145 

seditiously, and wickedly, to resist the lawful 
authority of their said respective masters and lawful 
owners, whose names to the jurors aforesaid are as 
yet unknown, and to break the peace of the said 
state upon their masters and lawful owners to 
the great damage of the said masters, in contempt 
and open violation of the laws, good order, and gov- 
ernment of this state, to the evil and pernicious 
example of all others in like case offending, and 
against the peace, government, and dignity of the 
state/' 

The third charge was of the same tenor of the 
first and second, and need not be repeated. The 
whole was signed by the district attorney of the 
Fifth Judicial District, and attested by the clerk. 

On this indictment Mr. Gruber was tried in the 
Frederic county court, March term, 1819, the case 
having been removed from Washington county at 
the request of the defendant's counsel. 

The Hon. J. Buchanan, Chief Judge, and the Hon. 

A. Shriver and the Hon. T. Buchanan, Associate 

Judges, composed the court. 

10 



146 LITE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

OPENING ARGUMENT FOR THE PROSECUTION. 

In opening the case, the District Attorney, in 
addressing the jmy, observed that it was well 
known that slaves were property according to the 
laws of the state of Maryland, and that masters were 
entitled to the full protection of said property; 
that any attempt to incite slaves to insubordination 
and resistance to the lawful commands of their 
masters ought to be punished. He suggested, how- 
ever, that, in the prosecution of the inquiry on that 
occasion, the jury must not forget that liberty of 
opinion and speech was the privilege of every 
citizen, and if it should appear that Mr. Gruber had 
no criminal intent in his sermon, then he was to be 
regarded as having committed no offense against the 
law. It was the duty and province of the jury to 
judge of the intent from the facts which should be 
elicited in the testimony, and upon which alone their 
verdict was to be rendered. 

TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION. 

The first witness called on tlie part of the prosecu- 
tion was Dr. Frederick Dorset, who, upon being 
sworn, was examined by the attorney general. 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 14? 

Question. Did jou hear Mr. Gruber's sermon at 
the camp-meeting in Washington countj^? If so, 
please state to the jury what Mr. Gruber said, to the 
best of your memory. 

Answer. I was at the camp-meeting, and heard 
the sermon. Mr. Gruber spoke on many subjects. 
He spoke of the tyranny of masters, and gave a 
dialogue of what was to pass in hell between masters 
and slaves upon hot gridirons. He drew a com- 
parison between Pennsylvania and Maryland, and 
remarked that the people in Pennsylvania were sur- 
prised to see in the Maryland newspapers advertise- 
ments of negroes fpr sale, with stock and lands, and 
that they were sold without fault. He also com- 
mented upon the cash condition of the payment, the 
price of the soul, etc., etc. He said, in looking 
further into these advertisements, he found one run- 
ning thus : " Two hundred dollars reward ;" another, 
" Three hundred dollars reward ;" and still another, 
" One hundred dollars reward" for runaway negroes. 
A man gone to see his wife, or a wife gone to see 
her husband, and fear of punishment kept them from 
home. He said he would not be surprised if the 
slaves would poison their masters' children, and all 
go to damnation together. At this there was a 



148 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

general response on the camp ground of " Amen ! 
Amen!" He said it was true that some slaves 
had good masters ; but what security had fathers 
that their children, to whom thej left them, would 
use them well; may not the slaves they leave 
as property rise against the children, and what 
security have masters that their children will not 
tyrannize over the slaves, and the slaves poison 
them? He said masters had no right to punish, 
because the negroes were free and born free. He 
quoted the Declaration of Independence, by which 
the people in this country had declared all men to 
be equal, and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit 
of happiness. He said further that the husband 
had no right to punish his wife, and on the same 
principle the master had no right to punish his 
slave. 

Dr. Dorsey was then cross-examined by Mr. Pig- 
man, one of the attorneys for the defense, in the fol- 
lowing manner : 

Q. What part of the discourse was addressed to 
the negroes ? 

A. A considerable part of it. 

Q. What were the number of white people on the 
ground ? 



^ LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 149 

A. About tliree thousand whites, and from three 
to five hundred blacks. 

Q. What was the manner of Mr. Gruber ? 

A. He preached with energy and zeah 

Q. What was the text of Mr. Gruber ? 

A. I do not recollect the text, but he preached the 
necessity of repentance to the blacks as well as the 
wdiites. 

Da.vid G. Yost, Esq., was next called, and the 
attorney general proposed the following questions: 
Were you at the camp-meeting in Washington 
county ? Did you hear Mr. Gruber's sermon ? 
How many persons were present, and what was the 
general scope of his sermon ? 

Mr. Yost stated in answer that he was at the 
meeting and heard the sermon. The text was in 
Proverbs : " Righteousness exalteth a nation ; but sin 
is a reproach to any people." He said in that part 
of his discourse relating to slavery, that he was 
opposed to slavery as a man, and much more so as a 
Christian. He said it was a reproach to the people 
of America to boast of their liberty while they held 
thousands in bondage ; that there was a great incon- 
sistency in holding the Declaration of Independence 
in one hand and a bloody whip in the other, and 



150 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

the blood streaming from a negro's back literally cut 
to pieces. He spoke of advertisements in the Ma- 
ryland papers, mixing negroes for sale with stock, 
land, etc., and offering a reward for men who, 
perhaps from inhuman treatment, had gone to see 
their wives and children. He then addressed the 
blacks, and exhorted them to emancipate themselves 
from the service of the devil, and warned them 
if they and their masters lived and died in sin they 
would all go to hell together. Then he addressed 
the whites, and said : ^' You say you use them well ; 
granted, but how do you know your children, to 
whom you leave them, will use them well? They 
may tyrannize over them, and the slaves may rise 
up and poison or cut the throats of your children." 
In his address to the negroes he particularly ex- 
horted them to get religion and seek the pardon of 
God for their sins, and be ha23py. 

Dk. Hammond, as a witness for the state, was next 
called and examined by the attorney general. 

Question. Did you hear tlie sermon in question de- 
livered by Mr. Gruber? 

Answer. I did hear it. He spoke in part of it of 
advertisements in the Maryland newspapers in which 
men were offered for sale with the cattle. Kesjroes 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 151 

were olfered for sale without any fault. I^one need 
apply without cash. He said the cruelty of some 
masters was such that he should not be surprised if 
the slaves would enter their bed-rooms in the dead 
of night and poison tliem or cut their throats. He 
seemed to speak in a great passion. A person could 
hear him half a mile distinctly. He said negroes 
were sometimes whipped for trifling faults ; that they 
could not serve God and man. The part of his sermon 
addressed to the blacks occupied ten or fifteen minutes. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Pigman. 

Question. Do you remember that part of Scripture 
where our Saviour told the Jews and others who heard 
him, that they could not serve God and mammon? 

Answer. I do not remember any such Scripture. 

Me. Claggett was next examined on the part of 
the state. He was requested by the attorney general 
to state to the court and jury what he knew about the 
business. He testified as follows : I was at the camp- 
meeting and heard the sermon, but do not remember 
the text. Mr. Gruber said it was very inconsistent 
for people in this boasted land of liberty to hold the 
Declaration of Independence in one hand and a whip 
stained with human blood in the other. He said it 
was a common thing to see human flesh offered for 



152 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

sale in Maryland with cattle and other stock. Horrid 
it was, he said, to the people of Pennsylvania to hear 
of these things. He said he would not be surprised 
if these negroes poisoned or cut the throats of the 
children of their masters, and all go to destruction 
together. I think there were about four or five thou- 
sand persons present, and out of that number about 
four or five hundred blacks. I did not hear the ad- 
dress to the blacks, as I left the ground before that 
part of the sermon commenced. 

Daniel Schneblt was next examined on the part 
of the state, and made the following statement : I do 
not remember the text, but think it was in Proverbs. 
I got displeased with him early in his sermon and left 
the ground, but returned again and heard him. In 
addressing the whites he said he should not be sur- 
prised if the negroes rose in the night and killed their 
masters, and entered their bedrooms and poisoned 
their children. There were from five to six thousand 
people present, and out of them from three to five 
hundred negroes. 

De. Finlet was then called, and testified as follows : 
I heard Mr. Gruber preach the sermon for which he 
stands accused. The general scope of his discourse 
was to entreat the congregation to obtain religion. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 153 

He preached with zeal and vehemence, but not more 
so on that occasion than usual. I have heard Mr. 
Gruber often, and he delivered his sermon on that 
occasion in his usual manner. When speaking on 
slavery as a national sin, he said, besides the immor- 
ality of slavery itself, many masters treated their 
slaves with great cruelty, denying them the comforts 
of life, and many engaged in the slave-trade would 
for a tempting price tear asunder the tender ties of 
husband and wife, parents and children. Under these 
cruelties he said the slaves might be faithful to one 
generation, but they might not be so to the descend- 
ants of the present generation ; that it would not be 
surprising if the children to whom they were left, 
treating them with cruelty, should cause rebellion, 
and end in mutual strife ; the negroes sliould cut their 
throats, or kill them, be hung for it, and all go to de- 
struction together. He said some slaves were treated 
as if they had no souls. Though they were black, he 
said they still had human feelings, and many of tJiem 
possessed keen sensibility. He said those who tyran- 
nized over the negroes might be in hell, while the 
negro thus used, if faithful, might be in happiness. 
He said it was degrading to humanity to see human 
souls mixed with horses, cows, and stock, and offered 



154 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

at public sale to the " highest bidder ;" that it was 
inconsistent with the republican principles of this 
nation to hold the Declaration of Independence in one 
hand, while the bloody scourge was brandished over 
the trembling slave with the other. 

Me. Ingram was next called, and gave the following 
testimony : I remember that Mr. Gruber said he 
should not be surprised if the slaves of some masters 
entered their bedrooms and cut their masters' throats. 
I did not pay much attention to the sermon, and don't 
recollect the text. 

Mr. Hogmire testified as follows: Mr. Gruber, 
when speaking on the subject of slavery, observed 
that the Pennsylvanians thought it monstrous to 
see Maryland newspapers filled with advertisements 
ofiering for sale negroes with cattle and other 
goods. He said he would not be surprised if they 
were to cut their masters' throats and poison their 
children. 

Me. Rench was next called, and testified as fol- 
lows: I do not remember the text. I got so mad 
with Mr. Gruber for his severity on other sects of 
Christians that I do not remember much about the 
sermon. 

At the close of Mr. Kench's testimony, the 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 155 

attorney general gave notice to the defendant's coun- 
sel that the proof on the part of the state was closed. 
Roger B. Tanej having, as above stated, been 
employed as counsel in the case delivered the open- 
ing address to the jury. 

EOGER B. TA^^Y'S OPENmG ADDRESS. 

He remarked that the statement made by the dis- 
trict attorney had informed the jury of the interesting 
principles involved in the trial then pending before 
them. It was, indeed, an important case, in which 
the community, as well as the accused, had a deep 
interest. The prosecution is without precedent in 
the judicial proceedings of Maryland ; as the jury are 
judges of the law as well as the fact, it becomes my 
duty not only to state the evidence we are about to 
offer, but to show you the grounds on which we 
mean to rest the defense. 

I need not tell you, that by the liberal and happy 
institutions of this state the rights of conscience and 
the freedom of speech are fully protected. 'No man 
can be prosecuted for preaching the articles of his 
religious creed, unless, indeed, his doctrine is im- 
moral, and calculated* to disturb the peace and order 
of society ; and subjects of national policy may 



156 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

at all times be freely and fully discussed in the 
pulpit or elsewhere without limitation or restraint. 
Therefore the reverend gentleman, whose cause I am 
now advocating, cannot be liable to prosecution in 
any form of proceeding for the sermon mentioned 
by the district attorney, unless his doctrines were 
immoral, and calculated to disturb the peace and 
order of society. The sermon, in itself, could in no 
other way be an oifense against the laws. If his 
doctrines were not immoral, if the principles he 
maintained were not contrary to the peace and good 
order of society, he had an undoubted right to preach 
them, and to clothe them in such language, and to 
enforce them by such facts and arguments as to him 
seemed proper. It would be nothing to the purpose 
to say that he offended, or that he alarmed some, 
or all of his hearers. Their feelings, or their fears, 
would not alter the character of his doctrine, or take 
from him a right secured to him by the constitution 
and law^s of the state. 

But in this case he is not accused of preaching 
immoral or dangerous doctrine. It is not the charge 
contained in the indictment. The preaching of such 
a sermon is not laid as the offense. He is accused 
of an attempt to excite insubordination and insur- 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 157 

rection among our slaves; and the intention of the 
preacher is the essence of the crime. On this in- 
dictment, no matter what doctrines lie preaclied, 
no matter wliat hmgnage he used, yet his doctrines 
or his hmguage could not amount to the crime now 
charged against him. They would be evidence, I 
admit, to show his intention ; but they would be 
nothing more than evidence, and could not constitute 
the offense itself. 

Mr. Taney then read and explained to the jury 
the different counts contained in the indictment. 
You will perceive, he continued, by the explanation 
I have given you, that the intent of the accused is 
the great object of your inquiry. The charge is a 
grave and serious one. It is necessary, in order to 
support the prosecution, that the wicked intention 
charged in the indictment should be made out by 
proof. The guilty design is the crime imputed to 
him. You must be satisfied, before you can say he 
is guilty, that such was his intent, such the object 
he wished to accomplish, and that such were the 
purposes for which his sermon was preached. For 
it is upon this sermon alone that this prosecution is 
founded. 

It is true that the words used by him are evi- 



158 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

dence of his intentions. But they are not conclusive 
evidence ; nor are they the only evidence from which 
the intent is to be gathered. His language is a cir- 
cumstance from which you may infer his design. It 
is nothing more. And there are a variety of other 
circumstances equally entitled to weight, and equally 
proper for the consideration of the jury. For when 
it is alleged, on the part of the prosecution, that a 
clergyman of a Christian society, while professing to 
be engaged in the high and solemn duties of religion, 
was in truth seeking to produce insubordination and 
insurrection among the slaves, and a detached part 
of his sermon is relied upon as the proof of his guilt, 
the party accused has a right to refer you, in proof 
of his innocence, to the general scope and object of 
his sermon, to the other topics introduced and dis- 
cussed; to the occasion on which it was preached, 
to the character of the congregation to whom it was 
addressed, to the opinions known to be held by the 
society to which he belongs, and, above all, to the 
history of his own life, which in this instance would, 
of itself, be abundantly sufficient to repel such a 
charge, bottomed on such evidence. Upon all of 
these circumstances Mr. Gruber relies for his 
defense, and I now proceed more particularly to 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 159 

state them, as you will by and by hear them in 
proof. 

You have already been told that Mr. Gruber is a 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. And 
it is not necessary to tell you that the religious soci- 
ety to which he belongs is nearly as numerous as 
any other society of Christians in this state, and the 
equal of any other in the general order and decorum 
of their behavior, in their moral deportment, and in 
their habits of obedience to the laws. It was at a 
very early period of his life that Mr. Gruber became 
a member of this society, and took upon himself the 
duties of a minister of the Gospel. In this vocation 
he has faithfully labored for more than twenty years, 
and he now fills a post of high rank, and great confi- 
dence in his Church, the reward of his fervent piety 
and unwearied zeal. We shall also prove to you by 
a most respectable witness, a minister of the same 
Church, whose duty it has often been, according to 
the Discipline of that society, to examine into the 
conduct and character of the accused, that during the 
whole course of his ministry, the reverend gentle- 
man, who is now on his trial, has sustained a charac- 
ter of spotless integrity. 

It is well known that the gradual and peaceful 



160 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEK. 

abolition of slavery in these states is one of the ob- 
jects which the Methodist society have steadily in 
view. No slaveholder is allowed to be a minister in 
that Clmrch. Their preachers are accustomed, in 
their sermons, to speak of the injustice and oppres- 
sions of slavery. The opinion of Mr. Gruber on this 
subject nobody could doubt. And if any slavehold- 
er believed it dangerous to himself, his family, or 
the community, to suffer his slaves to learn that all 
slavery is unjust and oppressive, and persuade him- 
self that they would not of themselves be able to 
make the discovery, it was in his power to prevent 
them from attending the assemblies where such 
doctrines were likely to be preached. Mr. Gruber 
did not go to the slaves ; they came to him. They 
could not have come if their masters had chosen to 
prevent them. 

In August, 1818, a camp-meeting of the Method- 
ist society was held in Washington county. At 
tliis meeting it was the duty of Mr. Gruber to at- 
tend. He did attend, and from his official station in 
the society, the general superintendence and direc- 
tion of the meeting was in his hands. On one of the 
days of the meeting, when the usual hour of evening 
preaching had arrived, the gentleman who had been 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 161 

depended upon to fulfill that duty was prevented by 
indisposition. It was the duty of Mr. Gruber to 
provide for this unexpected emergency. He applied 
to several of his brethren, and requested them to ad- 
dress the congregation. But it so happened, that 
from different causes, not now material to be stated, 
he was unsuccessful in all his applications ; and as 
nobody else could be found to supply the place of 
the sick brother, Mr. Gruber was compelled to do it 
himself. He undertook the task without preparation, 
without time for reflection, and upon the sudden and 
unexpected call of the moment. I state these facts 
so much in detail, because this sermon is th6 sole 
foundation of the charge against him. The language 
used on that occasion is the only fact relied upon to 
prove him guilty of the wicked intention of raising 
an insurrection among the slaves, and converting this 
peaceful and flom-ishing state into a horrible scene 
of rapine and murder. 

At the time this sermon was preached there were 
present about three thousand persons, of whom only 
about four hundred were people of color, as they are 
now generally called. These were separated from 
the whites, according to the custom on such occasions, 
nnd placed together, behind the stand from which 



162 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

the preacher addressed the congregation. Many of 
the most respectable gentlemen of Washington coun- 
ty, and many of the principal slaveholdei'S were 
there when the sermon in question was delivered. 
Yet it is at this meeting, thus constituted, that he is 
accused of conspiring against the peace of this state. 
It is in his public address to this assembly that he is 
said to have developed his profligate designs. If he 
did mean to stir up the slaves to insurrection, it 
must at least be admitted that he at the same time 
put the masters on their guard. 

The address of Mr. Gruber occupied rather more 
than one hour. His subject was national sin; and 
after enumerating and rebuking some ofi*enses which 
he supposed the people of this country to be but too 
prone to commit, he, in the conclusion of his dis- 
course, spoke about fifteen minutes, and no more, on 
slavery and the treatment of slaves. It is not al- 
leged that he said anything in the preceding part 
of his sermon* calculated, in any degree, to support 
tlie prosecution. During all that time he made no 
allusion to the condition of master or slave, jjind in 
the latter part of his discourse, when he did speak of 
them, and used the language on which this prosecu- 
tion is founded, he addressed himself particularly to 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 163 

the masters. His appeal to his hearers on this sub- 
ject was directed exclusively to the whites. The 
impression was intended to be made on them. And 
when the language used by him shall be detailed to 
you by the witnesses, you will find that he could not 
have designed, in that part of his discourse, to influ- 
ence the conduct of the slaves, but was obviously 
and clearly seeking to reform the hearts of the 
masters. 

There may, and probably will be a difference 
among the witnesses as to the words used on this 
occasion by the reverend preacher. There will 
always be this difference where there are many 
hearers. For some will be negligent, while others 
are attentive ; some hear only detached parts, others 
hear the whole ; some are roused to attention only 
when the angry passions are inflamed by an expected 
attack on some favorite opinion, and others listen 
to the whole discourse, in the spirit of soberness and 
humility, for the purpose of receiving and profiting 
by the instruction. And in this case a difference is 
more especially to be looked for because the sermon 
produced a good deal of excitement, and much warm 
conversation among different persons even on the 
ground ; so that the remarks of irritated individuals 



164 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

become intimately blended in the mind with the 
language of the preacher, and make it difficult, 
after the lapse of some months, for those who list- 
ened carelessly to separate the one from the other. 
But we shall be able to fix, beyond doubt, the lan- 
guage actually used by him ; for we shall produce a 
most respectable witness w^lio listened attentively to 
the whole discourse, who was near the preacher during 
the whole time, and who, on the day afterward, while 
it was yet fresh in his mind, wrote down the heads 
of the discourse, and wrote out in full what may be 
termed the offensive part of it. His statement, too, 
will be corroborated by the testimony of a multitude 
of other witnesses concurring with him in all the 
material parts. We shall therefore confidently rely 
on it as containing truly and accurately the words 
delivered. And fronl such a sermon as the witness 
will detail, preached by such a man, on such an occa- 
sion, and under such circumstances, without any 
other act of his life to aid the prosecution, I must be 
allowed to say that no intelligent mind, free from 
the influence of passion and prejudice, can infer the 
guilty design charged in this indictment. 

The learned district attorney has said that the lan- 
guage of Mr. Gruber was injudicious ; that it was not 



LIFE OF JA'COB G RUBER. 165 

calculated to do good ; that it would necessarily irri- 
tate and offend the masters, and make the slaves more 
dissatisfied with their unhappy condition. And it 
may, in the progress of this trial, be argued, on the 
part of the prosecution, that his principles on the 
subject of slavery were wrong ; that the assertion of 
his opinions to a congregation mixed like the one to 
which he was speaking, was impolitic and dangerous, 
and likely to produce insubordination and disturb- 
ance among the slaves. N'ow, if all this could be 
truly said of this memorable sermon ; if the reverend 
preacher merited all these reproaches, yet, if you 
should believe that his motives were pure, if you 
think him innocent of any design to produce this 
mischief, he would still be entitled to a verdict of 
acquittal ; for he is not now on trial for preaching 
doctrines calculated to disturb the peace and order 
of society. That is not the offense charged in this 
indictment ; and you are well aware that a man 
indicted for one offense cannot on his trial on that 
indictment be convicted of another and a different 
offense. And if the learned attorney for the state 
shall be able to satisfy you that the opinions of Mr. 
Gruber on slavery, and the treatment of slaves, are 
unsound ; that his arguments were injudicious and 



166 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

impolitic ; that his language was inflammatory and 
calculated to produce evil ; still he will not have 
advanced one step toward the accomplishment of his 
object, until he can prove to you that these opinions 
were uttered, these arguments were used, and this 
language employed, with the criminal intention and 
for the wicked purpose laid in this indictment. I 
might, therefore, safely rest the defense on this 
ground, and yield to the attorney for the state all the 
advantage he can derive from placing my client, in 
this respect, in the wrong ; for the circumstances I 
have before stated will, in my humble judgment, put 
the integrity of his motives beyond all question. 
And whatever may be thought or said of the intem- 
perance of his zeal, nobody who listens to the proof 
will be able to doubt the sincerity of his heart. 

But the reverend gentleman merits a defense on 
very different principles. The counsel to whom he 
has confided his cause cannot content themselves 
with a cold and reluctant acquittal, and abandon Mr. 
Gruber, without defense, to all the obloquy and 
reproach which his enemies have industriously and 
most unjustly heapeS upon him. We cannot consent 
to buy his safety by yielding to passion, prejudice, 
and avarice, the control of future discussions on this 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 167 

great and important question. He must not sur- 
render up tlie civil and religious rights secured to 
him, in common with others, by the constitution of 
this most favored nation. Mr. Gruber feels that it 
is due to his own character, to the station he fills, to 
the respectable society of Christians in which he is a 
minister of the Gospel, not only to defend himself 
from this prosecution, but also to avow, and to vindi- 
cate here, the principles he maintained in his sermon. 
There is no law that forbids us to speak of slavery 
as we think of it. Any man has a right to publish 
his opinions on that subject whenever he pleases. It 
is a subject of national concern, and may at all times 
be freely discussed. Mr. Gruber did quote the lan- 
guage of our great act of national independence, and 
insisted on the principles contained in that venerated 
instrument. He did rebuke those masters who, in 
the exercise of power, are deaf to the calls of human- 
ity ; and he warned them of the evils they might 
bring upon themselves. He did speak with abhor- 
rence of those reptiles who live by trading in human 
flesh, and enrich themselves by tearing the husband 
from the wife, the infant from the bosom of the 
mother ; and this, I am instructed, was the head and 
front of his oflending. Shall I content myself with 



168 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

saying he had a right to say this ? that there is no 
law to punish him ? So far is he from being the 
object of punishment in any form of proceeding, that 
we are prepared to maintain the same principles, and 
to use, if necessary, the same language here in the 
temple of justice, and in the presence of those who 
are the ministers of the law. 

A hard necessity, indeed, compels us to endure the 
evil of slavery for a time. It was imposed upon us 
by another nation, while we were yet in a state of 
colonial vassalage. It cannot be easily or suddenly 
removed. Yet, while it continues, it is a blot on our 
national character, and every real lover of freedom 
confidently hopes that it will be efi'ectually, though 
*t must be gradually, wiped away ; and earnestly looks 
for the means by which this necessary object may be 
best attained. And until it shall be accomplished, 
until the time shall come when we can point without 
a blush to the language held in the Declaration of In- 
dependence, every friend of humanity will seek to 
lighten the galling chain of slavery, and better, to the 
utmost of his power, the wretched condition of the 
slave. 

Such was Mr. Gruber's object in that part of his 
sermon of which I am now speaking. Those who 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 169 

have complained of him and reproached him will not 
find it easy to answer him, unless complaints, re- 
proaches, and persecution shall be considered an 
answer. 

I have now done with stating the testimony we are 
about to offer, and marking out the grounds on which 
our defense will be taken. But there is one other 
topic on which it may be proper to remark before I 
conclude the opening of the case. 

The sermon in question was preached in Washing- 
ton county, and this indictment was found by the 
grand jury for that county. The cause has been re- 
moved to Frederic, upon the application of the ac- 
cused. This circumstance sometimes creates suspicions 
unfavorable to the character and standing of the party 
who applies for the removal. If he has been long an 
inhabitant of the county in which he is indicted, there 
may be some ground for these suspicions ; but even 
then they cannot be allowed, in the least degree, to 
affect the verdict. In this case, however, Mr. Gruber 
was as much a stranger in Washington as he is in 
Frederic. He never resided in tha^t county, and 
therefore has not shunned the decision of the men 
who knew him. He has removed his cause from one 
body of strangers, to be decided, indeed, by aaother 



170 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

body of men who are equally unacquainted with him. 
His motive for doing so I will briefly explain to you. 
Mr. Gruber, as I have already told you, was a 
stranger in Washington, and consequently incapable 
of deciding how far a fair and impartial trial could be 
there expected. He, of course, submitted himself on 
this point to the decision of his counsel, and formed 
his own opinion upon the advice and information de- 
rived from them. I am by no means prepared to say 
that if he had gone to trial in Washington his cause 
would not have been patiently heard, and impartially 
decided, by a jury of that county. But it was well 
known that great pains had been taken to inflame the 
puHlic mind against him. The grand jury of that 
county had found this indictment to be true ; and on 
that jury were men of high standing and great influ- 
ence in the county. Many of the members of that 
body I know personally, and respect highly. They 
are incapable, I am sure, of willfully doing wrong. 
Yet they are, like the rest of us, but men ! frail men ! 
and liable to be influenced by the impulse of passion 
or prejudice without being aware of it. Knowing, as 
I did, all the circumstances of this case, and being 
firmly convinced that there was no just cause for in- 
stituting this prosecution, the finding of this indict- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. iTl 

ment, by a body of men so respectable as the grand 
jury, was of itself sufficient evidence to my mind that 
the liberty and reputation of Mr. Gruber ought not 
to be hazarded on a trial there. I so advised him, 
in the strongest terms ; and if blame is to rest upon 
any one ^or the removal of the cause, I acknowledge 
that to me, and not to Mr. Gruber, it ought to be im- 
puted. Yet I cannot think that the exercise of a con- 
stitutional right can be matter of censure against the 
client or his counsel ; nor can it be a reproach to any 
one that he is willing to abide the verdict of a jury 
of Frederic county. 

TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENSE. 

After the opening address of Mr. Taney was con- 
cluded, Mr. Pigman, one of the defendant's counsel, 
proceeded to call witnesses in his behalf. Kev. N. 
Snethen was first called, and testified as follows: 
Mr. Gruber, in his introductory prayer, devoutly 
prayed for the safety, conversion, and happiness of 
the whole assembly. When upon the point of slavery, 
he gave the good and bad masters their meat in due 
season ; kept up the distinction between good and 
bad masters. He admitted, in his argument, that 
many masters used their slaves well ; but then, he said, 



172 LIFE OF JACOB GEIJBEE. 

what security have they that their children will use 
them well? It is possible that their children may be 
tyrants ; the slaves may rise and kill their children. 
When he spoke of killing, it exclusively related to the 
next generation. He endeavored, in his argument, 
to convince the good master that slaves were danger- 
ous property to leave to children ; that tyranny in the 
children might produce rebellion in the slaves, and 
mutual destruction might ensue. Mr. Gruber preached 
that day by accident. He did not appoint the meet- 
ing ; and before he began he labored very much with 
one of his brethren in the ministry to preach in his 
place. He possesses a good general character; is 
very zealous and devout in the ministry. He is next 
in office to the bishop, and of an unimpeachable moral 
character. In his address, in conclusion, to the blacks, 
he enforced on them repentance ; exhorted them to 
religion, to obedience, and patience in the service of 
their masters. He told them without religion they 
were slaves to their own lusts, slaves to their masters, 
and if they died in their sins they would be damned 
forever. When he adverted to the Declaration of In- 
dependence, he spoke of it as a national thing, and 
not to slaveholders particularly, and said it had been 
justly thrown upon this nation as a reproach, to hold 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 173 

the Declaration of Independence iu one hand, and 
the bloody whip in the other. 

Court. How did you like the sermon ? 

A. From prudent considerations I would not have 
preached in the same way, because from his very 
frank manner persons might misrepresent him. My 
taste also differed from his, and should have advised 
a different manner and composition ; but nothing 
escaped him that could induce me to believe for a 
moment that he had a criminal intent. When Mr. 
Gruber spoke of the danger of mutual destruction 
between the children and slaves in the next genera- 
tion he offered up a prayer for them all: "The Lord 
have mercy on them !" and it was then the general 
response of Amen took place, alluded to by Dr. 
Dorsey. 

•Kev. Jeremiah Mason was next sworn by the 
clerk, and examined on the part of the defendant: 
I was at the camp-meeting and heard the sermon. 
His text was in Proverbs : " Righteousness exalteth a 
nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Right- 
eousness was the first head of the discourse. Sin is a 
reproach to any people, was the next head. He dwelt 
considerably on the sin of infidelity, and with great 
labor on the sin of oppression, under which he con- 



1Y4 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

sidered, he said, the whole of invohmtary negro slav- 
ery. He contended that involuntary negro slavery 
was a violation of the moral and natural law, and a 
gross abuse of Christianity ; that it was in violation of 
the sentiments expressed by the American sages in the 
Declaration of Independence ; that it was reproachful 
to this nation to hold that sacred instrument in one 
hand and a rod stained with blood in tlie other. He 
spoke of the cruelty of advertising and selling human 
beings, mixed with cattle. He said it was usual to 
find in the advertisements on this subject the owners 
stating to the public that they (the negroes) were 
sold without fault. In that part of his address 
directed to the negroes he was very severe on them, 
and told them, unless they repented and obtained 
conversion, they would be damned forever. He 
recommended to them obedience, and entire and 
patient resignation to their condition. I being a 
justice of the peace, and hearing an accusation was 
to be stated against Mr. Gruber, I made immediate 
notes, after the delivery of the sermon, of its prin- 
cipal heads. When he spoke of the danger of kill 
ing, he referred to the posterity of the present gen 
eration of masters. He said, in the mutual strife 
that might ensue between the negroes and the chil- 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 175 

dren of the present masters, there might be mutual 
death, and all be sent to destruction together. Then 
he made a pause, and said, " The Lord have mercy 
on them!" Then the response spoken of by Dr. 
Dorsey took place of Amen ! Amen ! Mr. Gruber 
then said : 

" Is there not some chosen curse, 
Some secret thunders in the stores of heaven, 
Red with uncommon wrath, to blast the wretch 
That makes his fortune from the blood of souls ;" 

or words to that effect. At this time he was speak- 
ing of tlie slave-trade. 

Cowpt. Have you ever said that you did not ap- 
prove of the matter and manner of the sermon 
delivered by Mr. Gruber? 

A. I have said, from the temper of the congrega- 
tion, I was fearful the sermon might give offense to 
some persons present; but I never intimated or 
thought there was anything criminal in it. 

Rev. Jonathan Forrest was next examined : I 
was at the camp-meeting; I heard the sermon. lie 
took his text in Proverbs : " Righteousness exalteth 
a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." He 
spoke considerably on the beauty of righteousness, 
and the horror of sin, in a national point of view. 
In his prayer previous to preaching he offered a 



176 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

fervent petition to the throne of grace for the happi- 
ness, peace, conversion, and quiet of the whole con 
gregation. He discussed negro slavery as a national 
sin, as being contrary to the natural and moral law, 
contrary to the Christian religion, and expressly 
against that command of God which directs us to 
do to all men as we would they should do to us. 
He said slaves were dangerous property for fathers 
to leave to their children. Children might tyrannize 
over them, mutual destruction might ensue, and all 
go to destruction together. When he spoke of the 
danger of killing it was in reference to the next 
generation of men. In that part of the address 
directed to the negroes he exhorted them with great 
zeal to get religion, to seek pardon of God, to obey 
their masters and mistresses, to let their light shine 
before men, and perhaps it might be a means of 
their getting their freedom through some kind turn 
of providence. He told the slaves if they lived and 
died in their sins they would be damned forever. 
I was near Mr. Gruber the whole time he was 
preaching. I am confident he did not in any part 
of his sermon say the negroes present were free-born. 
H. G. O'lSiEAL was next examined: I was at 
the camp-meeting, and heard the sermon. In his 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 177 

first prayer he fervently prayed, as usual, for the 
peace, conversion, and happiness of the whole con- 
gregation. In the general scope of his sermon he 
preached repentance toward God and ftiith in a Sav- 
iour. He said slaves were dangerous property to 
leave to children ; that present good masters had no 
security that their children w^ould make good mas- 
ters; children might become tyrants, slaves might 
rebel, kill each other, and all go to destruction to- 
gether. I do not remember his saying anything 
about poison. When he spoke of killing, he referred 
to the next generation of men. He said it was mon- 
strous to see human souls put up at auction, for sale 
with cattle and stock ; that it was horrid to a repub- 
lican and a Christian. In his address to the negroes 
he was severe on them for their own sins. I remem- 
ber he preached to them the necessity of their own 
conversion, exhorted them to be obedient and sub- 
missive to their masters, and begged those who had 
pious masters to join them in devotion. I think 
there was about five thousand white persons present, 
and perhaps from two to three hundred blacks. 

Mr. Long was next examined : I was at the camp- 
meeting, and heard the sermon. I remember Mr. 

Gruber said, Pennsylvanians thought it strange that 

12 



178 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

human beings were sold in Maryland at auction with 
cattle and beasts. He said negroes were dangerous 
property for fathers to leave to their children, that 
children might prove to be tyrants, negroes might 
rebel, mutual destruction take place, and all go to 
destruction together. 

Court. Did he tell the negroes they were a de- 
graded people? 

A. lS,o. He advised them to be obedient. He 
preached a mighty good sermon. It was the truth 
from the Scriptures. 

Rev. Lawkence Everhakt was next examined ou 
the part of the defendant : I heard the sermon. In 
preaching from his text he spoke of the beauty of 
righteousness first. Then he spoke of various na- 
tional sins until he came to the sin of negro slavery. 
He said the Americans had, in their Declaration oF 
Independence, proclaimed to the world that they 
hold it self-evident that all men are created equal ; 
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain 
unalienable rights ; that among these are life, liber- 
ty, and the pursuit of happiness ; that it was incon- 
sistent for tliis nation to be holding this scroll of 
liberty in one hand, and in the other a bloody cow- 
hide ; that human beings were often mixed with cat- 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 1Y9 

tie, and sold at public auction for no fault ; that it 
would be awful to account for this in the day of 
judgment. He said, Admit some masters use their 
slaves well, what security have they, when they leave 
this sort of property to descend to their children, that 
their children will be equally kind? The children 
may become tyrants, and slaves rise against them, 
produce mutual resistance and mutual destruction, 
and all go to hell together. The Lord have mercy 
on them ! There was then a general response of 
Amen ! Amen ! After addressing the whites he 
particularly addressed the negroes. He exhorted 
them to obey their masters, and be resigned to their 
condition. He preached to them the terrors of hell 
that hung over them while they remained in an un- 
converted state ; that they were slaves to their lust, 
slaves to the devil, and if they died in their sins they 
would be damned forever. 

Rev. Samuel L. Davis was next examined : I 
was at the camp-meeting and heard the sermon. 
The text he took opened the way to speak of national 
virtues and national sins. Among other national 
sins he spoke of negro slavery, as tolerated in this 
nation. He was very severe upon bad masters, and 
particularly those engaged in the slave-trade. In 



180 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

part of his sermon he made use of a quotation to this 
effect, I think : 

" Is there not some cliosen curse," etc. 

When he made this quotation he was speaking of the 
slave-trade. The address on this sin was principally 
directed to cruel masters, and traffickers in human 
flesh. After preaching to the whites he addressed 
the blacks, warned them faithfully of their own sins, 
preached to them the terrors of the law,- exhorted 
them to obedience to their masters, resignation to 
their state. I considered the address to the slaves a 
complete antidote for anything that had gone before. 

Court. What do you mean by an antidote \ Was 
there poison to be expelled ? 

A. I supposed it probable many masters present 
would be offended at the plain manner in which the 
preacher delivered the greatest truths, and I thought 
their wrath would be turned away when the accused 
warned the slaves so faithfully of their own sins, and 
exhorted them to obedience to their masters. That 
is what I mean by antidote. I never supposed there 
was anything criminal in his sermon. I remember 
Mr. Gruber said many j^ersons would contribute 
their money to support Bible societies, to carry the 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 181 

Scriptures to the lieatlien in foreign countries, who 
neglected to teach religion to the heathens in their 
own kitchens. 

Court. Kemember, jou must state the truth. 

A. Sirs, I am on my oath ; that is warning enough 
for me.^ 

Me. Yo was next examined : I heard the de- 
fendant preach the sermon. I remember he en- 
deavored to prove that slaves were dangerous 
property to leave to children ; that although fathers 
might be good, the children might be tyrants, 
slaves might rise against the children, mutual 
destruction might ensue, and all go to destruction 
together. He said slavery was horrid to him as a 
man and a Christian ; that it was a violation of the 
moral law, the law of Christianity, and was, in fact, 
contrary to the sentiments of the American sages, as 
expressed in the Declaration of Independence. He 
said it was monstrous to see a people holding a scroll 

* It is proper to state that the court, withont hesitancy, apologized to 
Mr. Davis, by observing that nothing was intended against his integrity ; 
but that the court, supposing he was a stranger to such examinations, 
considered it their duty to inform him that he was bound to state the 
whole truth, although the interrogatories put to him might omit some- 
thing. With this explanation the warning of the court was as beneficial 
to the accused as it was to the prosecution. The explanation was highly 
honorable to the court. 



182 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

of liberty in one hand, and a bloody whip in the 
other. After he addressed the whites he turned to 
the negroes, and warned them faithfully of their own 
sins ; and exhorted them to repentance, to obedience 
to. their masters, and patient submission to their 
condition. 

Jacob Bowltjs was next examined : I was at 
the camp-meeting and heard Mr. Gruber preach 
the sermon for which he is now indicted. He 
preached with great animation and zeal, and in 
the general scope of his sermon endeavored to con- 
vince the whole congregation of the great necessit}^ 
of repentance, of piety and love to God. When 
speaking of the sinS of masters he brought into view 
the sin of negro slavery in this country, and said the 
Americans are very inconsistent when they hold the 
scroll of liberty in one hand, declaring that all men 
possess equal rights, and the bloody whip in the other 
over a poor trembling negro, sometimes by cruel 
masters literally cut to pieces. He said, " Some mas- 
ters say, 'We use our negroes well.' Granted: but 
what security have you that your children to whom 
you leave them will do the same? Your children 
may be tyrants over them ; mutual strife and mutual 
destruction may ensue, and all go to hell togetlier. 



LIFE OB^ JACOB GRUBEK. 183 

The Lord have mercy on them." Then the general 
response of Amen ! took place which has been men- 
tioned by Dr. Dorsey. "What he said about the dan- 
ger of killing or poisoning referred to the next gen 
eration. 

John Bowlus (of Nicholas) was next examined : 
I heard Mr. Gruber preach the sermon in question. 
When he came to speak of the national sin of negro 
slavery, he observed that it was a monstrous incon- 
sistency for a people to hold our Declaration of Inde- 
pendence in one hand, and the bloody whip stained 
with the gore of a fellow-creature in the other. He 
was very severe upon bad masters, and all persons 
concerned in that sort of commerce called the slave- 
trade. He said there w^as an awful responsibility 
resting on them for the day of judgment. He en- 
forced Christian duties on the masters and slaves. 
He applauded the good master and the good slave. 
He said good masters make good slaves, and good 
slaves make good masters. He endeavored to show 
by various arguments that it was impolitic to encour- 
age it ; that slaves were dangerous property to leave 
to children ; that though fathers might be good the 
children might be tyrants, slaves might rebel against 
the children, might kill them, and all go to destrue- 



184 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

tion together. After addressing the whites he turned 
to the negroes. He warned them to serve their 
masters truly and faithfully, that it was their great 
duty to be obedient and resigned to their condition. 
Me. Braziee, Me. Hunt, Me. Bealee, Me. Blake, 
Me. Middlekauff, Me. White, and Me. Eeynolds 
were next examined on the part of the defendant, 
and severally stated that they were at the camp- 
meeting, and heard Mr. Gruber deliver the sermon 
in question. His text was, " Righteousness, exalteth 
a nation, bat sin is a reproach to any people." In 
his introductory prayer he prayed for the happiness, 
conversion, peace, and quiet of the whole congrega- 
tion : and in the general scope of his sermon he, with 
great zeal, enforced the necessity of repentance to- 
ward God and faith in a Saviour. He endeavored 
to show how impolitic it was to encourage slavery. 
He said good masters liave no security that their 
children will be equally good. The children may 
turn tyrants, slaves may rebel and kill the children, 
and all go to destruction together. As a nation, the 
Americans were very inconsistent. The sentiments 
of our forefathers, contained in the Declaration of 
Independence, are violated every day. The scroll of 
liberty was held in one hand, and a whip, stained 



LFFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 185 

with die gore of a human being, in the other. Wlien- 
ever he spoke of the danger of killing, it was in 
reference to the next generation of men. After he 
addressed the whites he turned to the %egroes, and 
preached to them, with great zeal and animation, tlie 
terrors of the law of God hanging over them while 
they continued unconverted. He told them they 
had no chance of happiness, but by leading pious 
lives in all humility to their condition ; exhorted 
them to be obedient to their masters, and to 
show them by an upright walk and godly conversa- 
tion that they deserved their lenity and kindness. 
He told them by an orderly, good behavior, they 
might gain the good-will of their masters, and ia 
time, and in the course of providence, might ob- 
tain emaiJ^ipation ; exhorted all of them who had 
pious masters, to join them morning and evening in 
devotion. 

Rev. Fkederick Stier was next examined : Mr. 
Gruber, when speaking of national sins, brought 
into view negro slaver}^ in this country. He argued 
to show it was a national sin of the greatest magni- 
tude. In reasoning with masters he observed, "Some 
of you say, ' We use our negroes well.' Granted : 
but what security have you that your children, to 



186 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

whom you leave that sort of property, will use them 
well. Tour children may turn tyrants, the slaves 
may rebel, and all go to destruction together." He 
said it was ^ monstrous inconsistency in the Amer- 
icans to hold the Declaration of Independence in one 
hand and the bloody scourge in the other. I do not 
remember that he said anything about poisoning or 
killing, except what related to the next generation, 
as before mentioned. In his address to the negroes, 
he warned them faithfully of their own sins, and 
preached to them the necessity of repentance. Ex- 
horted those who had religious masters to join them 
in devotion to God. I know Mr. Gruber preached 
by mere accident. He called on me to preach with 
very pressing and anxious solicitation several times. 
I refused. He preached on that occasion frith great 
reluctance. 

Eev. George Koszel was next examined : I 
have known Mr. Gruber for eight or nine years. 
He holds an office second in rank to the bishop. He 
possesses a character unblemished. He is pious, 
zealous, and very laborious in the ministry. I have 
been one of a committee in the annual conference 
for many years for the annual examination of the 
characters of our preachers, and Mr. Gruber's has 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 187 

been before me every year, in that way, for several 
years past. Nothing that could lead to immorality 
has ever been imputed to him in his ministerial 
character. 

Eey. Abner ]S[eal was next examined : I have 
been acquainted with Mr. Gruber for many years, 
but I was more particularly acquainted with him 
in the year 1814. In that year he was stationed 
by the Cliurch in the city of Baltimore, where I 
reside ; and while the British were at E'orth Point, 
threatening Baltimore, Mr. Gruber had under his 
charge from fifteen hundred to two thousand ne- 
groes, and kept them under the very best dis- 
cipline. I have lieard him frequently preach to 
them ; and he warned them faithfully of their duty 
to their masters, and patient submission to their 
condition. 

Here the counsel for Mr. Gruber gave notice to 
the attorney general that they had now closed the 
examination of the witnesses. 

CLOSmO ARGUMENT FOR THE PROSECUTION. 

Franklin Anderson, district attorney, closed the 
argument on behalf of the state in a brief speech. 
He said he felt the peace and good oi'der of the 



188 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

state as much at heart as any man, and would be as 
wiUing as any man to see a person guilty of crimes 
brought to condign punislnnent, but he said he 
never could consent, contrary to his conscience, 
and the best light of his own judgment, to 
use any effort to convict any man of any offense 
charged against him, when he thought from the evi- 
dence there was no crime committed. He said he 
should address the jury no further on the subject, 
except to state to them that he did not wish his own 
convictions or opinions to have any weight with 
them. He should leave them free to pass their own 
unbiased judgment on the case before them, which he 
hoped they would do, with an eye to the public good. 

MR. MARTIN'S ARGUMENT FOR THE DEFENSE. 

The attorney general having closed the argument 
on tlie part of the state, Mr. Martin rose and ad- 
dressed the jury as follows : 

I appear before you as one of the counsel for the 
accused ; and if the subject upon which we delib- 
erate involved no other interest than that connected 
with the right of property, I should be well pleased, 
after the very just and candid prosecution, to spare 
the time of the court, aud submit the cause of my 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 189 

client, without comment or remark, to the delibera- 
tion and decision of the jury. 

But in a trial which wears an aspect different 
from, and more alarming than any other known in 
the history of the court ; when a citizen eminent for 
piety and Christianity is arraigned for doing nothing 
but what benevolence, piety, and Christianity re- 
quired ; when the feelings and principles of a vastly 
numerous Church have been, through the accusation 
of a member, sensibly wounded ; and when the right 
of sentiment and of speech is doubted and attacked, 
silence on our part would be criminal. As for my- 
self, though young and inexperienced, shrinking 
from the gaze of public scrutiny, and trembling 
under consciousness of incapacity, I cannot, under 
those disadvantages, forbear at least the exertion of 
defending a client so injured, a cause so just, and 
principles so important to every American, as to be 
the very soul of his national independence. 

It is, however, a consideration of pleasure to know 
that much time will be saved, and much trouble in 
this investigation unexpectedly relieved, and, I am 
happy to say, relieved by the firm and highly hon- 
orable part the state's advocate has acted. Highly 
honorable ! for however meritorious it may be actively 



190 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

to pursue and strenuously to prosecute the man who 
would meditate to unhinge the government, and 
inundate with blood the land', it is surely equally 
meritorious fearlessly to avow him innocent whose 
innocence has been proved. The district attorney 
stands upon the high ground of protecting, not 
abusing, the law ; to shield from violation, not per- 
vert it to oppression ; ready to exert his power 
against the wretch who willfully profanes it, and 
ready to shelter, under the mantle of authority, the 
prisoner who is wrongfully accused, whether such 
accusation arises from the zeal of the misguided, the 
prejudice of the misinformed, or the uncontradicted 
information a grand jury gleans from the examina- 
tion of ex paiie witnesses. 

Gentlemen, you are impanneled to determine a 
case of no ordinary kind. You are called upon to dis- 
charge a trust, the highest that can be discharged by 
enlightened men endowed with the powers of reason, 
and empowered with right of decision. Patriots 
who have suffered for the liberties of our country, 
look to your verdict with an agonizing care; the 
Methodist Church bleeds at every pore for the fate 
of a minister transferred from the pulpit to the 
prison box; posterity to succeed may have reason 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 191 

either to bless or curse the result of this day. The 
busy crowd that throng the court, though disposed to 
immolate at the shrine of opinion the man who 
differs, and condemn him because they condemn his 
sentiments, will learn to affirm your acquittal. 
When that film which now obscures the vision alike 
of the humane and the wise shall have fallen ; when 
those fumes which float from the heated prejudices 
of the time shall have passed away, they will learn 
that the blow leveled at the traverser must fall upon 
themselves ; that the freemen who condemn a man 
for uttering the dictates of his heart, commit 
suicide upon their liberties ; and by sacrificing this 
reverend gentleman they sacrifice those noble attri- 
butes of their constitution, the right of free sentiment 
and the right of free discussion. 

Who is the accused f What has he spoken ? How 
were his sentiments dangerous f and with what inten- 
tion did he sjpeah those sentiments f These, gentle- 
men, are matters for your consideration ; and while, 
in pursuing them, I hope duly to regard the duty to 
my client, I shall not forget that the court, the jury, 
and the counsel are already much fatigued with the 
investigation of his subject. 

Who is the accused? He is a gentleman of tho 



192 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

clerical ministry, and after laboring with zeal and 
fidelity many years in the cause of religion, has been 
appointed presiding elder of the district. Nursed in 
the cradle of the Church, and confirmed in its tenets, 
he has '^ grown with its growth, and strengthened 
with its strength." Aloof from those cares which 
incite the ambition, deprave the passions, and multi- 
ply the misfortunes of the temporal world, his life 
has been devoted to the service of his God, and his 
time to the instruction of his fellows. Unconfined 
to any particular situation, he has traveled from 
circuit to circuit, shedding in his course the light of 
the Gospel, and disseminating the principles of 
morals, philanthropy, and religion. The duties of his 
office carried him to the place where the supposed 
crime, was committed, for which supposed crime he 
has been called from the altar of grace, to answer 
charges preferred by his country. 

What has he spolcenf At a camp-meeting held 
last August, in Washington county, the traverser, 
according to the will of the ministry, and in opposi- 
tion to his own inclination, preached a sermon from 
Proverbs : ^' Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin 
is a reproach to an}^ people." From that text his 
deductions were many, and after descanting upon the 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 193 

different divisions, he addressed the congregation 
upon the subject of slavery. He spoke of it as a 
" national sin," and condemned the practice as being 
contrary to natural law, national policy, and the 
principles of humanity and religion. 

Thus, gentlemen, a religious discourse, embracing 
the principle of slavery, has given rise to this 
criminal prosecution. The indictment accuses the 
traverser of an attemj)t to excite " rebellion ;" and is 
it necessary to ask whether a minister can be thus 
criminated for advancing to his own congregation sen- 
timents upon a subject so often the topic of general 
remark, and so often the theme of public reproba- 
tion ? The right of slavery is a question of abstract 
morals, of natural law, and human policy ; a subject 
upon which the judgment ponders and the intellect 
suspends; discussed in the councils of the nation, 
it has called forth the efforts of the benevolent and 
learned ; and the matter of that memorable sermon 
which now arraigns this reverend gentleman has 
been long since proclaimed by elevated statesmen. 
We will convince you that sentiments upon slavery, 
stronger in matter and bolder in expression than any 
portion of the traverser's discourse, have rolled from 
the lips and flowed from the pen of the most distin- 



194 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

guished Americans. Men high in office, eminent 
in science, fair in character, and exalted in the 
confidence of their fellow-citizens, have arrayed 
themselves the champions of emancipation ; and con- 
demned a system they conceived unwise and un- 
natural, dangerous to the morals and strength of the 
people, poisoning the springs of social felicity, and 
repugnant to the principles of our free constitution. 

What says Mr. Jefferson? In his Kotes upon Vir- 
ginia he thus writes : " There must, doubtless, be an 
unhappy influence on the manners of our people, 
produced by the existence of slavery among us. The 
whole commerce between master and slave is a 
perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, 
the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and 
degraded submission on the other." Again: "With 
what execration should the statesman be loaded who, 
permitting one half of the citizens thus to trample 
on the rights of the other, transforms those into 
despots and these into enemies; destroys the morals 
of tlie one part and the amor jpatri(2 of the other! 
For if a slave can have a country in this world, it 
must be any other in preference to that in which he 
is born to live and labor for another; in which he 
must lock up the faculties of his nature, contribute, 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 195 

as far as depends on his individual exertions, to the 
evanishment of the human race, or entail his own 
miserable condition on the endless generations pro- 
ceeding from him." Continuing, he asks : " Can the 
liberties of a nation be thought secure when we 
have removed their only iirm basis, a conviction in 
the minds of the people that their liberties are the 
gift of God? That they are not to be violated but 
with his wrath? I tremble for the honor of my 
country when I reflect that God is just; that his 
justice cannot sleej^ forever; that, considering num- 
ber, nature, and means only, a revolution in the 
wlieel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among 
possible events; that it may become probable by 
Bupernataral influence! The Almighty has no attri- 
bute which can take side with us in such a contest.''^ 

Such, gentlemen, are the remarks of Mr. Jeflferson, 
and I read them for the purpose of proving that the 
sul)ject has been, before this sermon, examined with 
great animation, and without an}' suspicion of crime. 
That philosopher and statesman called the attention 
of his state to an evil, corroding, as he thought, 
^Yery day the morals, inflaming the passions, weak- 
ening the energies, and endangering, perhaps, the * 
liberties of a free and manly people. These senti- 



196 LIFE OF JACOB GIIUBER. 

ments were free and unconcealed, circulated in Vir- 
ginia, so numerous in slaves, and open to general 
observation, private discussion, or public scrutiny. 

Yet is Mr. Jefferson infamous? Has he been 
branded with the epithet of hypocrite and felon ? 
Has he been subjected to the ceremony of a criminal 
prosecution, and threatened with the chains and 
calamities of disgraceful imprisonment ? ^o ! since 
the publication of his notes he has been elected to 
the presidential chair, directed for eight years the 
affairs of the nation, and now reposes, unaccused 
and unsuspected of anything like treason, in the lap 
of literature and science. 

But, gentlemen, Mr. Jefferson is not the only 
citizen who has freely spoken upon this subject, and 
who ranks high in the councils of his country. The 
remarks of Mr. Talmadge, upon the floor of Congress,* 
at its last session, on the question of the Missouri 
bill, were much in substance as those preached by 
the traverser. Discussing the policy of admitting 
slavery into Missouri, he says : " You boast of free- 
dom in your constitution and your laws ; you have 
proclaimed in your declaration of riglits that all men 
are created equal; that they are endowed with cer- 
tain unalienable rights; among these life, liberty, 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 197 

and the piirsuit of happiness; and yet you have 
slaves in your country." In another part he con- 
tinues : "This is a subject [alhiding to slavery] upon 
which I have great feeling for the honor of my 
country. In a former debate upon the Illinois ter- 
ritory I mentioned that our enemies had drawn a 
picture of our country, as holding in one hand our 
declaration of rights and with the other brandishing 
a whip over our affrighted slaves." 

Thus you learn that arguments upon the evils of 
slavery, not less powerful than those of the traverser, 
have been rung by a president of the United States 
and a representative in Congress in the ears of the 
whole nation. They have been exalted, not dis- 
graced ; they have received the benedictions, not 
the curses of their country ; and I ask by what prin- 
ciple of fairness can you accord honor to the one 
and infamy to the other? They are argued from 
the right of free discussion ; the same right is dele- 
gated to the traverser. The golden rule of dealing 
alike to all is just, and the same franchise of speech 
and of conscience that supported Mr. Jefferson, Mr. 
Talmadge, and others, when bearing their weapons 
in the cause of freedom, justifies Mr. Gruber. 

As an American citizen, he was authorized to dis- 



198 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEPw. 

CUSS the policy of a system interwoven with tlie well- 
being of his government; as a man, moved by the 
feelings of benevolence, and glowing with enthusiasm 
of philanthropy, he was privileged in condemning a 
practice he thought inconsistent with both ; as a min- 
ister of the Gospel, directed by the laws of his Church, 
and instigated by conscience and belief, he w^as bound 
to tender his advice. Had he not, the sin of " leaving 
undone those things he ought to do," would have re- 
coiled upon him ; he would have broken a much more 
sacred law than he is said to have violated ; he would 
have sinned against a much higher tribunal (however 
exalted by learning and virtue) than I have tlie honor 
to address; he would have sinned against that God 
before whom you and he and we must appear. 

Gentlemen, before a man can be subject to the 
sanction of law, law must be proved to exist. He 
cannot violate that which is not in being. Has 
any law been, adduced to you to-day? Have the 
prosecution exhibited any statute of the state as 
broken and abused ? ISTone has, none can be offered. 

It has been remarked that the laws of Maryland 
allow slavery. Granted. But it does not command 
it. The distinction is evident. Did the law positively 
command, then any arguments in opposition might be 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBKU. 199 

criminal. Where it merely permits, it becomes a 
subject of private opinion, policy, and conscience; 
and any citizen has the privilege, by all the abilities 
of his mind, to remove that opinion or alter that be- 
lief. Besides, the traverser addressed his own con- 
gregation, confined his remarks to the pale of his 
Church ; and surely if any can be authorized, it is the 
pastor who teaches the doctrines of his Church to 
those who compose it. The Quakers are principled 
against bearing arms, and it is unnecessary for me to 
tell this well-informed jury that the right of advocat- 
ing those principles in their houses of worship never 
was denied them. There the Quaker opposes what 
in fact is declared by law ; and he draws his right 
from that freedom of opinion and prerogative of speech 
every man living under the sun of America has exer- 
cised since the memorable period of seventy-six. 

Gentlemen, having endeavored to establish that the 
traverser thus far has neither violated law nor reason, 
let us dissect the sermon, and before we proceed to 
the intention., inquire how his sentiments were danger- 
ous ; and whether, upon fair construction, they can 
be thought calculated to excite either "rebellion, dis- 
obedience, or insurrection." You learn from the testi- 
mony that the sermon consisted of two distinct parts : 



200 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

one addressed to the white congregation, and the 
other to the slaves. And so far from attempting 
to create insubordination, we will prove that the clear 
and ostensive purpose was, first, by discussing the 
principles of slavery, (which we have already consid- 
ered,) to effect universal emancipation ; secondly, by 
exposing the cruelty of selling and torturing slaves, 
to ameliorate and soften the discipline of masters ; 
and thirdly, by instilling the policy and religion of 
obeying those entitled to govern, to fasten upon the 
slaves good conduct and obedience. 

The internal slave-trade of this country formed 
the subject of part of his discourse ; and he dis- 
played in the severest terras, as the witnesses deposed, 
the sin and wickedness of such atrocious commerce. 
As to the particular expressions, the testimony differs, 
but in substance is the same. And where is the crime ? 
Is there any man on that jury, or in this court, w4io ^ 
would not respond to such sentiments, who would not 
raise his voice and power in suppressing a traffic oppo- 
site to the laws of God, and repugnant to the rights 
of man? Gentlemen of tlie jury, interest, policy, ne- 
cessity may compel us to retain an evil which seems 
to be entailed. It is not for me to say, until the efforts 
of philanthropy shall establish for these people a suit- 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 201 

able receptacle, how far emancipation would be pru- 
dent. But nothing can justify so flagrant and cruel 
an abuse of it. ^NTo motive can authorize a trade that 
separates the husband from tl^ie wife, tlie parent from 
the child, and the relation from the friend ; that tears 
asunder all the ties of social connection and breaks 
apart all the ligaments of natural union ; steeping 
yet deeper in misery this unfortunate population, and 
forcing from their embrace the last relic of human 
happiness. It "would draw iron teai^s down Pluto's 
cheek." 

The African slave-trade has eno^aored the attention 
and attracted the notice of almost every part of 
Christendom. Your own government have taken 
laudable and effective measures to suppress it. So 
proud is England of her exertions that she contends 
for the right of example ; and Kapoleon of France, 
amid his mad career of war and carnage, when every 
call of mercy seemed drowned in the din of battle, 
and every fiber of humanity eradicated by the power 
of ambition, forbad the slave-trade. And is that njoi'o 
to be deprecated than this? The same cruelties are 
practiced, the same ties are broken, the same agents 
employed. Traffickers in blood and panderers of ava- 
rice are engaged in both ; and the vultures who hover 



202 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

over the coast of Africa and the vultures that crowd 
from the sugar farms of America are equally destruct- 
ive ; alike they feed upon the vitals and fatten upon 
the miseries of an unfortunate and degraded people. 

Gentlemen, I -^brbear to press or continue the sub- 
ject. IVe have proved, I hope, that the traverser 
has not in this violated the law. In this country, 
enlightened as we are by rays of Christianity, and 
illumined with light of liberty, no law can be pro- 
duced to credit a practice unwise, inhuman, and 
unjust. 

I will next call your attention to a passage in 
which he exhibits the inconsistency of our theory and 
practice. "Is it not a reproach to a man to hold in 
one hand the Declaration of Independence, and with 
the other brandish a whip over the bleeding slave?" 
This description, though hideous, is true. The same 
was drawn by Mr. Talmadge, and with the same 
foreigners have reproached us. The picture of Amer- 
ican independence, though glowing with the tints of 
liberty and virtue, cannot but be darkened and dis- 
colored by such cruelty and oppression. The trav- 
erser did not apply the remark generally, but made 
it conditional ; he did not say that such practices 
existed ; yet if they did exist, they were inconsistent. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 203 

He threw his sentiments to tlie congregation, " qui 
capita ille facit f^ and the man who so far misuses 
power which chance has given, well merits the lash 
of invective. Does any attempt appear to canse " re- 
bellion or insurrection." The object was to do no 
more than expose those cruelties wliich, when prac- 
ticed, degrade the man and stigmatize the nation. 

This concluded his address to tlie whites ; and as 
the alleged attempt was to infect the slaves with re- 
bellious principles, observations to them become more 
interesting, because more important. Several wit- 
nesses on the part of the prosecution, and all for the 
accused, testify that the whole tenor of that dis- 
course went to impress upon their minds the value 
of religion, " Of all people in the world you ought 
to have religion," he says, '^ for when converted, you 
will disregard the hardships of your life." It is said 
he spoke of poison, and thereby impliedly recom- 
mended the use of it to the slave. In that sentence, 
where he remarks, " that althougli you (addressing 
the masters) use them well, there is no security but 
what your children will tyrannize over them ;• the 
slaves, abused, rise up, and kill or poison your chil- 
dren, and all he Jiung and go to destruotion together.^'' 
Admitting this, can any man, without perverting 



204 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

common sense and common langnage, see an attempt 
to induce the nse of poison ? Does he not stamp 
such conduct with the dreadful doom of death and 
destruction ? With equal propriety you might say, 
to desci'ibe futurity was to encourage sin ; and to 
instigate murder, it would only be necessary to relate 
the appalling ceremony of criminal prosecutions. 

In another passage : " Some of you (addressing the 
slaves) have good masters ; you ought to attend to 
religion, and discharge your duty to your masters, 
that it may make your condition better here and here- 
after. Some of you have cruel masters ; you are 
slaves to them, slaves to sin, and if you die without 
religion you will be slaves to the devil.'' What, 
then, does he declare that religion to consist in ? Re- 
bellion? Is'o ; for that, he has affirmed, is repugnant 
to religion. Disobedience ? Mr. Snethen tells you, 
upon oath, that he fully discharged the doctrines of 
his Church, and those doctrines command the slave 
to obedience. Insurrection ? Certainly not, for then 
he threatens them with the dreadful reversion of 
future woe. A witness thinks that he said, " If you 
die slaves to your masters you will be damned." The 
witness from ineligible situation must be mistaken ; 
it is too absurd to be believed. Could the traverser 



LIFE OF JACOIJ G RUBER. 205 

say that a man should be punished for an evil he 
could not avert, and suffer for that which was his 
niisfortune, not his fault? It is contradicted b}^ 
cver}^ witness on the part of the accused, who, we 
may suppose, from situation and attention, better 
understood and more correctly remembered the 
expressions of the sermon. 

We have now, gentlemen, examined each passage 
of the sermon, and contend that it has been viewed 
through a false and mistaken medium ; that the 
observations of the traverser were not, in themselves^ 
calculated to inspire '^ rebellion or disobedience,'' 
and therefore hope that the intelligent jury to whom 
he appeals will wipe that charge from the indict- 
ment. But if I should be too sanguine in this hope, 
should we fail to convince you that his sentiments 
were useful, not dangerous ; much more is necessary 
to be established — the intention is the life and 
essence of every crime — and before you can convict 
tlie accused upon the charge of high misdemeanor, 
an intention to commit the different offenses in 
the indictment must be proved, wicked, designed, 
and felonious. 

Here let us reflect upon the testimony. In all 
cases of high capital nature every man is presumed 



206 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEH. 

innocent nntil prov^ed gniltj. Such is the benignity 
of onr laws ; such the language of Justice Buller, 
and such is the voice of all English authorities. The 
case at bar is an accusation of high criminal char- 
acter, and it is much stronger to prove by conduct 
than presume from inference. Where, then, is the 
evidence to establish such guilt? Can it be found 
in the testimony of any witness ? Can a single fact 
or circumstance be adduced which even savors of 
such intention f 

All the gentlemen of the Methodist clergy -state 
that the traverser strongly objected to preaching on 
the day named in the indictment ; that he expressed 
every wish to decline, and used every means to avoid 
the service, and did not consent until his duty as 
presiding elder compelled him to perform what 
others refused. The congregation of whites he ad- 
dressed was four times more numerous than the 
slaves. The witness from Baltimore, Mr. Xeal, in- 
forms you what his conduct was in the year 1814. 
Stationed by his Church in Baltimore, he presided 
over his congregation during the memorable battle 
of North Point, and at that anxious moment, w^hen 
every eye watched the destiny and every heart beat 
for the danger of our gallant troops, the traverser held 



LIFE OF JACOB GFwUBEE.. 207 

in harmless subjection a body of fifteen hundred men. 
And does this look like an attempt to bring ruin up- 
on the country; to whet the sword of civil war, or 
light the fires of desperate rebellion ? Can you sup- 
pose premeditation to preach on that day, wlien he 
so often refused the invitation of the ministry? 
"Would he have, by declaiming before the masters, 
strong in numbers and power, provoked the very 
sword of justice ; and would he have failed at a 
former period in the commotion of Baltimore, when 
all its nerves were braced against foreign attack, to 
strike a dreadful and perhaps a fatal blow? ]^o, it is 
inconsistent with common reason to think it ; and, 
however the policy of his doctrines may be question- 
ed, none, unless they have drunk to the dregs the cup 
of prejudice or folly, can doubt the purity of his 
heart. His object was to effect universal emancipa- 
tion ; his intention to teach the law of religion, and 
to pour into the afflictions of an ill-fated people the 
comforts and consolations of the Gospel. 

Gentlemen of the jury, this trial is new in America: 
it is novel in the jurisprudence of our country. You 
must for examples unfold the blood-stained page of 
the fifteenth century. Go back to that season of re- 
ligious fury ; recur to that black and disgraceful pe- 



208 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEll. 

riod of intemperate opinion wlien bigoted belief was 
supported by the gibbet and the stake, and the very 
temples of justice "smoked with bloody execution." 
I pretend not to sa}^ that this prosecution has 
originated from such influence; the fair characters of 
the gentlemen who composed the Grand Jury (though 
personally unknown to me) defy the suspicion ; but 
it matters not from whom or from what. You view 
the case with all its lights and solemnly decide upon 
the principles. Shall this nation, so long gloried in 
as the home of the oppressed, the retreat of the per- 
secuted, the asylum of those w^ho, in the dreadful 
massacre of individual privilege, have flown from 
their " altars and their gods," be at this day reduced 
to the disgraceful level of infuriated despotism? I 
trust not. The streams of jurisprudence, drawn 
from the fountains of liberty and virtue, w^ill continue 
to play through the land free and unpolluted. But 
it is unnecessary to invoke such sentiments in the 
bosom of this impartial tribunal. The flrmness, the 
intelligence and integrity of juries must ever prove a 
safeguard and barrier against the encroachments of 
prejudice. The traverser has been introduced to 
you with the imposing name of a Grand Jury; a host 
of testimonv has rallied round and ventured to sup- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 209 

port it. Yet, gentlemen, you have seen that not the 
ingenious examination of the learned district attor- 
ney, not all the exertions of professional ability, have 
been enabled to extract one fact or elicit one circum- 
stance to uphold an indictment b^iseless and un- 
founded. 

Sir, I have done; not, however, without offering 
my thanks to the honorable court for the indulgent 
attention they have been pleased to extend, on my 
part undeserved and, except in iny gratitude, unre- 
quited. Considering the stage of this trial, and the 
gentlemen who follow me, if I have trespassed too 
long upon their time my apology must be sought in 
the deep interest and importance of the case. 

In defending the honor and liberty of a gentle- 
man whose life, through a series of twenty years, has 
passed unspotted and unreproached, I am justified in 
saying, that it has been not merely beyond censure 
but irreproachable until this day, and beyond sus- 
picion. His life has been dedicated to the holiest 
offices of religion, and employed in relieving those 
miseries and softening those sorrows which should 
have awakened the sympathies of a colder heart. 

Confiding in your virtue, the traverser awaits the 

verdicl with calmness and security. If acquitted, 

14 



210 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

glorying in the principles of his country, he will re- 
turn to his duties with zeal and faithfulness ; if con- 
victed, supported by the consciousness of innocence, 
he will bear whatever punishment the law may inflict 
with the resignation of a Christian and the firmness 
of a man. 

MR. PIGMAJs^'S ARGUMENT TO THE JURY. 

Mr. Pigman, who, as counsel for the defense, con- 
ducted the examination, then addressed the jury: 

You perceive from the case before you tliat it did 
not originate in Frederic county, and I trust you 
also perceive that the accused was bound in duty to 
his own character, and tlie still greater duty he owed 
to the sacred cause of religion, to embrace his legal 
privilege of changing the venue, to shield himself 
from an overwhelming and dangerous influence, 
which, from some strange and nnaccountable infatu- 
ation, seemed to be seeking his destruction. In this 
prosecution we have new proof, if any was wanting, 
that none need to look for angels in the form of men, 
and that men, however respectable they may be, are 
involved in the same general condition of mortality, 
and liable to be nrged on to give pain and uneasiness 
to perfect innocence itself by erroneous judgment, 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEFv. 211 

and the still greater delusion of prejudice and inflated 
anger. Folly itself, give it time to cool and review 
what it has done, will shrink abashed from this pros- 
ecution, and be constrained by the stings of a disturb- 
ed sensibility to own with silent anguish, if not pub- 
lic acknowledgment, that there is no criminal fault 
in the preacher. The intent with which any act is 
done, is to give it a criminal or innocent complexion. 
It is lawful to preach or debate against negro slavery 
in the pulpit as well as in the senate, if the orators 
have no criminal intent in their arguments ; and 
stronger proof of an innocent intent never was pro- 
duced by any person accused of a crime than that 
brought into court by the reverend gentleman I now 
defend. 

It is in proof that the camp-meeting where the 
discourse containing the supposed crime was de- 
livered, was not appointed by him ; that the sermon 
preached was wholly accidental and unpremeditated, 
after he had labored with great solicitude, but with- 
out success, with one of his brethren to preach in 
his place. He being presiding elder of the district 
it was his duty to preach, as no substitute could be 
procured. His introductory prayer ushering in the 
discourse possessed no signs, of a treasonable or re- 



212 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

bellious disposition. In this close converse with 
Almighty God he offered up pions j)etitions at a 
throne of grace for the peace, quiet, happiness, and 
• conversion of his congregation ; and by the general 
scope of his whole discourse it is proved he enforced 
upon his audience tlie divine doctrines of repentance, 
faith in Christ, love of God and their neighbor. It 
is in proof, both by the witnesses for the state and 
the accused, that in this particular address to the 
negroes he inculcated the necessity of their seeking 
the pardon of their sins at a throne of grace ; told 
them that the love of God (which, of course, would 
carry with it love for their masters) would ameliorate 
their condition, would procure their happiness in 
this life and the approbation of the Lord in that day 
when he would come to judge the quick and the 
dead. Tiiat those of them who were yet in their sins, 
unrenewed by divine grace, were not only slaves to 
their masters, but slaves to their lusts, slaves to the 
devil, and if they died without repentance toward 
God they would be sentenced forever by the right- 
eous Judge to damnation. It is in proof by a great 
mass of evidence on the part of the accused, from a 
great many respectable witnesses, that to prevent all 
misunderstanding of his motives among the whites, 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 213 

and to suppress the least rising of a tlionght that 
would lead to insubordination among the blacks, he 
preached to the latter obedience to their masters, 
resignation to their present condition, and urged 
those who had pious masters to join them in their 
devotion ; that bj a strict religious and moral de- 
portment in the order of Providence they might 
eventually obtain emancipation. 

The American sages who formed the constitution 
of Maryland have, with caution and sagacity highly 
honorable to their integrity and wisdom, preserved a 
declaration of rights on record, in which it is declared, 
" That it is the duty of every man to worsliip God in 
such a manner as he thinks most acceptable to him ; all 
persons professing the Christian religion are equally 
entitled to protection in their religious liberty, where- 
fore no person ought by any law to be molested in 
his person or estate on account of his religious per- 
suasion or profession, or for his religious practice, 
unless under color of religion any man shall disturb 
the good order, peace, or safety of the state, or shall 
infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their 
natural, civil, or religious rights." These sages were 
informed by the history of the old world, particularly 
that of Enofland, that the secular authoritv had often 



214 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

assumed unreasonable and unlawful powers against 
the rights of conscience, and that a dominant and 
powerful sect, sometimes exercising its power and 
influence to destroy a sect more w^eak and defense- 
less, had frequently created strife and dissension 
in the Christian Church, and greatly annoyed the 
peace and security of civil society. They had learned 
in the Book of Martyrs that good men had bled and 
burnt at the stake for adhering to the testimony of 
a good conscience, and had skill enough in political 
economy to know that civil liberty could not long 
exist in any state where religious liberty was not 
freely enjoyed. The clause of the bill of rights just 
quoted was tlierefore made, and is a precious jew^el 
among the rights of the citizen. The legislature, 
though possessing more power than any other tri- 
bunal in the state, has no authority to take this jewel 
from the citizen ; and however bold and frank a 
preacher may be in a discourse against the vice of 
slavery, permitted by law, to a mixed assembly of 
slaves and masters, yet, as long as he intends to 
commit no crime, but eradicate the vice, he is inno- 
cent and inoffensive, and w^orthy of being protected 
by the laws of God and man. ISTegro slavery, as it 
exists in this country, is evidently a violation of 



LIFE OF JACOli GKUJ3EK. 215 

natural 'law, and is contrary to the fundamental 
principles of the Christian religion. When we speak 
undisguised truth from an honest heart we pro- 
nounce it an absolute despotism, at which we should 
all shrink with horror if it were fixed upon our white 
population ; and to prevent it from involving the 
whites and drawing into its vortex our own posterity, 
even in a much milder form, we would readily con- 
sent to rise en masse, and pledge the last drop 'of 
our blood and the last cent of our treasure. Tliis, 
though known to every man of serious reflection 
and sound philosophy, is a secret to many of the 
slaves ; and although the relating this great secret 
to the whites in their hearing might by some remote 
possibility start a thought of insubordination, which 
might by another possibility still more remote lead 
to some ove7't act of rebellion, yet it is not unlawful 
to do it so long as it is done with an innocent intent. 
There is not only no law existing in Maryland to 
prevent it, but the legislature of the state does Jiot 
possess power to pass any such law, it being pro- 
hibited by the bill of rights. Consider, gentlemen, 
the American is rocked in the very cradle of liberty, 
and is habituated in thinking and speaking to more 
freedom and independence, and less restraint, than 



216 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

the men of any other country. He is disposed to 
enjoy his privilege to the fullest extent, and neither 
fears nor suspects any evil while he moves within the 
limits of the constitution. 

The preacher is commissioned and sent forth by 
God to declare his counsel and will to a fallen 
w^orld, with the whole revelation for his instruction 
and guide. In those instructions he finds the 
great Head of the Church hath declared in his in- 
imitable sermon on the mount : " Tlierefore, all 
things whatsoever ye would that men should do to 
3"0u, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and 
the prophets.*' Matt, vii, 12. And again : " For 
whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend 
in one point, he is guilty of all." James ii, 10. By 
the quotation from St. Matthew it is manifest that 
slavery is prohibited by the comprehensive meaning 
of our Saviour ; and by the declaration of the apostle 
James it is clear, that however excellent any man 
may be in all other respects, yet if he offend in this 
" one essential point he is a transgressor of the whole 
law." IsTow if a preacher, in perusing his instructions 
contained in the holy w^ord of truth, believes to the 
best of his judgment and understanding that it is a 
vice to hold slaves, and that it is his duty as a faith- 



LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 21 T 

fill messenger to declaim against vice in every shape, 
in his worship of Almighty God it becomes his right 
to do so, and it is a privilege of conscience, as com- 
jDletely secured to him by our bill of rights as the 
privilege of believing that Jesus is the Saviour of the 
world. The same rule that would prohibit the one 
might prohibit the other, until the civil or secular 
power might be permitted by piecemeal to assume 
an authority that would greatly vex and disturb 
every order and sect of the Christian Church. 

The Methodist and Quaker ministry both consider 
slavery as a great vice ; and if it could be said that 
the act of preaching itself, under circumstances 
which do not show a criminal intent, would justify 
the arrest and indictment of a preacher, these two 
sects of Christians must be silenced, and submit to be 
deprived of that very liberty of conscience evidently 
secured to them by the " bill of rights." There are 
no signs of a treasonable or rebellious disposition to 
be found in the accused. He did not appoint the 
meeting. The sermon was delivered with reluctance, 
without premeditation, and not until after he had 
solicited another gentleman to preach for him. It is 
admitted by his accusers that he made no attempt 
at any other time or place to incite the slaves to 



218 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

rebellion. Then they would have you believe that a 
man in his senses would publicly, in tlie presence of 
five thousand whites, persuade from three to five hun- 
dred blacks to rise in instant and open rebellion. All 
his severity w^as directed to those who used their 
slaves with cruelty, keeping up the distinction be- 
tween good and bad masters : and in his arguments he 
was endeavoring to prove that slaves were dangerous 
property for fathers to leave to their children ; and 
that, although fathers might treat their slaves with 
humanity, they had no security that their posterity 
might not act the part of tyrants, the slave? rise 
against the children, kill them, and be liung for 
their crime, and all go to destruction togetlier. 
The reference to the next generation is conclusive 
proof that he had no criminal intent. For he must 
be a most singular offender indeed to invent a trea- 
sonable plot to be executed upon the next generation 
of men when he himself would not live to see it. 
But tlie peroration of his sermon is still more con- 
clusive that he contemplated no crime. In the last 
part of his address he preached the awful terrors of 
the law of God to the negroes expressly ; w^arned 
them faithfully of their own sins ; advised them to 
resignation to their present condition, obedience to 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 219 

their masters ; urged them to obtain and keep re- 
ligion, to se<iure them happiness in this world and 
peace with God in heaven. 

But it is said by some that it was improper to 
preacli e\pn the truth when the negroes were 
present, because it might, by some remote possibility, 
lead to mischief. This surely cannot make it a 
crime, nor can the plain style in which he spoke. 
If Mr. Gruber were indicted for an impropriety or 
an indiscretion in the arrangement and composition 
of his discourse, or for awkwardness of gesture and 
unpolished delivery, it might be necessary to reply 
to such an insinuation. But you are not a jury of 
critics to try the composition of Mr. Gruber, to con- 
demn him because his tropes and figures were not 
braided and festooned with all that polish of eloquence 
that might be found in a more accomplished orator. 
But you are trying him for a crime said to have been 
committed against the laws of his country. But it is 
said, the allusion of the accused to the declaration 
of Independence, and the reproach thrown upon our 
national character by him for the inconsistency of 
declaring in that instrument, " that we hold these 
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created 
equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with 



220 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

certain unalienable rights; that among these are 
life^ liherty^ and the •pursuit of lia])piness f and still 
encouraging slavery and holding a bloody whip over a 
ti-embling negro, ought to be received as evidence of 
a criminal intent. It is evident that the tmverser, in 
this part of his sermon, was discussing a principle of 
natural law, which he found in the Declaration of 
Independence, admitted in all parts of the Union as 
tlie sound and proper basis of a republican govern- 
ment. Finding that the colonies in their struggle for 
liberty had, in the Declaration of Independence, 
avowed the sentiment without reserve, that all men 
liave equal rights, he argued as a corollary, that if 
all men have eqiial riglits^ it was at once desti'oying 
the very principles of a free government to exclude 
men from the enjoyment of liberty and the pursuit of 
happiness on account of the darkness of their skin 
or fleecy locks ; and that it would no more comport 
with the principles of republicanism to do so than 
it would to exclude all ineii from the enjoyment 
ol liberty who had not attained a certain portion of 
wealth or stature of body. This was the meaning and 
object of the accused, and the sermon, among 
rational men, will admit of no other succedaneiim. 
Now, wIk) would have supposed that principles so 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 221 

fraught with truth, and which cost this nation so 
many years of blood, carnage, peril, and anxiety 
to maintain, would, so early in the history of the 
republic, lay the foundation of a prosecution against 
a preacher because he maintained them in the 
pulpit. 

In all probability^ this case will make a part of the 
future history of this nation, both in the civil and 
ecclesiastical department ; and how astonished will 
the republican reader be that truths proclaimed to 
the world and left upon record by Jefferson, Adams, 
Hancock, and other worthy sages, and whick deserve 
to be written in letters of gold, should be brought 
against the preacher as evidence of a crime. The 
philosopher and statesman is permitted to speak and 
write ; but the man of God, upon these great and in- 
controvertible truths, cannot open his mouth without 
danger of fine and imprisonment. In the sermon sup- 
posed to be criminal, the accused seemed to be argu- 
ing the question of slavery as a national thing, ad- 
dressed to the present audience as a part of the nation. 
But you can no more infer that he had malice against 
those who heard, merely from the freedom with which 
he discussed the subject, than you can infer he had 
malice against the whole people of the United States. 



222 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

You cannot, with propriety, infer the former or the 
latter, unless you say that malice ought to be presumed 
in every man, in Church or state that will publicly, 
in a speech, censure or condemn the practical policy 
of any nation. This would be absurd, for it would 
effectually destroy every privilege of inquiry. 
Wretched indeed would be the liberty of the citizen, 
if he could not discuss plain, or even doubtful ques- 
tions in metaphysics, philosophy, natural law, or in 
theology, without danger of being condemned. It 
would be introducing, in miniature at least, some of 
the horrors of the Inquisition. But it has been said 
that the pulpit is not a proper place to discuss the 
slave question, because it is usual for slaves to be 
present, more or less, to hear these discourses, and it 
might possibly lead to insubordination. If the possi- 
bility of negroes getting to know what may be 
written or spoken upon this subject constitutes a 
crime, no man could write or speak upon it without 
making himself liable to a prosecution. Many emi- 
nent tracts have been written against slavery by some 
of our most distinguished philosophers, and have been 
perused and fully understood by negroes. Many 
distinguished statesmen have spoken against it, and 
Imve been heard by negroes. 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 223 

During the late debates in Congress upon the 
Missouri question, involving the policy of negro 
slavery, many distinguished members, in opposition 
to that policy, to maintain their ground, have ad- 
verted to the Declaration of Independence, and have 
admitted that it was reproachful to this country to 
hold the Declaration of Independence in one hand 
and the lash of despotism in the other, though at the 
time it was supposed slaves were in the gallery 
listening to the debate. Yet no one, before this, 
has attempted to indict and arraign the writers or 
speakers for their disinterested kindness. The pulpit, 
surely, more than any other place of public exhi- 
bition, ought to have a commanding influence on our 
moral and religious character. When a great moral 
evil is spreading like a leprosy through the whole 
body politic, the tocsin of alarm ought to be sounded 
by holy men with a divine pathos and energy becom- 
ing a station given to them by Almighty God, who 
is justly styled in his ow^n word, " the Father of 
lights," and the " author of truth," and all good 
morals, " in whom there is no variableness nor 
shadow of turning." Through this influence, in a 
great measure, this nation has already been awakened 
to the great evil of slavery, and measures are now in 



224 LITE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

preparation by a colonizing society, aided by the 
government, to send the free people of color to the 
land of their fathei*s as fast as they may be set free 
by a gradual and voluntary system of emancipation. 
For the purpose of showing you the duties of the 
accused as a minister in the Church to which -he 
belongs, I will, with your permission, read some 
extracts from the canons of his Church, in chapter 
vii, p. 212 : 

'^ Question. What shall be done for the extirpation 
of the evil of slavery ? 

'''"Answer 1. We declare that we are as much as 
ever convinced of the great evil of slavery ; and do 
most earnestly recommend to the yearly conferences, 
quarterly meeting conferences, and to those who 
have the oversight of the districts, circuits, and sta- 
tions, to be exceedingly cautious what persons they 
admit to official stations in our Church ; and in the 
case of future admissions to official stations, to require 
such security of those who hold slaves, for the eman- 
cipation of them immediately or gradually, as the 
laws of the states respectively and the circumstances 
of the case w^ill admit ; and we do fully authorize all 
the yearly conferences to make whatever regulations 
they judge proper, in the present case, respecting 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 225 

the admissions of pei*sons to official stations in our 
Church. 

'' 2. When any traveling preacher becomes an 
owner of a slave or slaves by any means he shall 
forfeit his ministerial character in our Church, unless 
he execute, if it be practicable, a legal emancipation 
of such slaves conformably to the laws of the state in 
which he lives. 

'^3. 'No slaveholder shall be received into full 
membership in our society till the preacher who has 
the oversight of the circuit has spoken to him freely 
and faithfully on the subject of slavery. 

" 4. Every member of the society v\;^ho sells a slave, 
except at the request of the slave, in cases of mercy 
and humanity, agreeably to the judgment of a com- 
mittee of the male members of the society, appointed 
by the preacher who has the charge of the circuit, 
shall immediately, after full proof, be expelled the 
society. And if any member of our society purchase 
a slave, the ensuing quarterly meeting conference 
shall determine on the number of years which the 
slave so purchased shall serve, to work out the price 
of his purchase. And the person so purchasing shall 
immediately after such determination execute a legal 

instrument for the manumission of such slave at the 

16 



226 LIFE OF JACOB GEIIBER. 

expiration of the term determined by the quarterly 
meeting conference. And in default of his executing 
such instrument of manumission, or on his refusal to 
submit his case to the judgment of the quarterly 
meeting conference, such member shall be excluded 
the society. Provided^ That in the case of a female 
slave, it shall be inserted in the aforesaid instrument 
of manumission that all her children who shall be 
born during the yeare of her servitude shall be free 
at the following times, namely : every female child 
at the age of twenty-one, and every male child at the 
age of twenty-five. Provided, cdso, That if a mem- 
ber of our society shall buy a slave with a certificate 
of future emancipation, the terms of emancipation 
shall, notwithstanding, be subject to the decision of 
the quarterly meeting conference. 

" 5. Let our preachers from time to time, as occa- 
sion serves, admonish and exhort all slaves to render 
due respect and obedience to the commands and 
interests of their respective masters." 

In this section it is made his duty to admonish 
the people against the vice of slavery ; and it is also 
made his duty to exhort and admonish all slaves to 
render due respect and obedience to the commands 
and interests of their respective masters; and in dis- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 227 

charge of liis duty in making known the doctrine 
of his sect to the world he is completely protected 
by the bill of rights ; and we cannot believe that he 
intended in his address to invite the negroes to dis- 
obedience to the commands of their masters, when 
he knew it was a violation of the government and 
rules of his Church that would lead to disgrace 
and excommunication. The whole section shows 
that the influence of the ministry was only to be 
exerted in promoting voluntary and gradual eman- 
cipation of slaves, while the latter were to be 
encouraged in nothing that would lead to hostilities 
Avith their owners. 

AVith your permission I will now examine with some 
minuteness the charges in the several counts contained 
in this indictment. In the first count the accused is 
indicted for endeavoring to stir up, provoke, instigate, 
and incite the negro slaves in Marjdand to commit 
acts of mutiny and rebellion in the state, which if true 
would be a misdemeanor, and would make the trav- 
erser liable to punishment. Let us see what is neces- 
sary in point of law to constitute acts of mutiny and 
rebellion, which it is said the traverser was endeavor- 
ing to incite the slaves to commit; and when you 
have correct information on this subject you will 



228 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

doubtless, from the facts disclosed, pronounce the 
charge fraught with too much folly to require a se- 
rious argument to refute it. The word " mutiny " does 
not often come under discussion in expounding the 
civil law of a state; but as it has been mixed with 
the word "rebellion" in this count it shall receive 
some notice. It means, then, to rise against authority, 
to make insurrection. Rebels or rebellion is ex- 
plained to us by Yattel as follows: "All subjects 
unjustly taking up arms against the head of a society 
are termed rebels, whether tlieir view be to deprive 
him of the supreme authority, or whether they intend 
to resist his commands in some particular affair, in 
order to impose conditions on him." From the same 
authority we learn what constitutes sedition or insur- 
rection, which would be included in the meaning of 
the words "mutiny" and "rebellion" in the first 
count. He says: "If the rage of the malcontents 
be particularly leveled at the magistrates, or others 
vested with public authority, and they proceed to 
a formal disobedience or violent proceedings, it is 
called a sedition. When the evil spreads, infecting 
great numbers in tlie city or provinces, and subsists 
in such a manner that the sovereijru is no longer 
obeyed, such a disorder custom has more particularly 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 229 

distinguished by the name of insurrection." (Yattel, 
Book III, ch. xviii, p. 487.) The accusation is that 
the traverser, being a man of a wicked and malicious 
disposition, endeavored, in his sermon delivered at 
the camp-meeting, to incite the slaves of the state 
to seize the executive authority, to resist the com- 
mands thereof in order to impose conditions on it 
dictated by the slaves. In short, that he was 
endeavoring in liis sermon to produce a sudden 
revolution in political affairs in the state, for the 
benefit of the negroes, on such conditions as they 
(the negro rebels) might think proper to dictate. 
'Need I reason with you to show the man had no 
such views or design? He was preaching to near 
five thousand whites and to from three to five 
hundred blacks. Could any person but a madman 
endeavor, under such circumstances, to incite the 
negroes to seize the government of the state ? Such 
a persuasion would instantly have ended in his own 
destruction, the destruction of the miserable fugi- 
tives that would have yielded to the crime, and 
obtained nothing for the slaves concerned in it but 
still greater agonies of distress for adding a crime 
to enhance the misery from which the traverser 
seemed anxious to relieve them. The whole of 



230 LIFE OF JACOB GETJBER. 

it is too preposterous for a moment's serious con- 
sideration. 

In the second count of the indictment the traverser 
is charged with endeavoring to stir up, provoke, 
instigate, and incite a great number of slaves sedi- 
tiously and wickedly to resist the lawful authority 
of their masters, and to break the peace of the state 
upon their masters. The count shows how difficult 
the prosecutors have found it to make out an offense 
against the laws. The word "seditiously" has been 
put in this count to give the charge some appearance 
of a crime, which count, it is believed, even with 
the word "seditiously" in it, if found true, would not 
in point of law be sufficient to enable the court to 
pass judgment against the traverser. To constitute 
sedition the rage of the malcontents must be jpar- 
ticularly leveled at magistrates or others "vested 
wdth the jpvhliG authority^'' (Yattel, p. 487.) If we 
were disposed to use hypercriticism on this count, 
we would say, as there is no charge against the 
traverser for endeavoring to provoke the slaves to 
acts of hostility against "magistrates" or others 
vested with the " public authority," but only against 
masters who are not magistrates, and who do not 
share any part of the "public authority," there is 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 281 

no sedition charged, and, perhaps, not even a mis- 
demeanor of the lowest class. 

But we do not wish to screen an honest man by 
technical distinctions and quibbles ; we therefore ad- 
mit, if it was true that the traverser did endeavor to 
incite the slaves to break the peace upon their mas- 
ters, it was highly reprehensible in him w^hen he was 
professing to be the harbinger of concord on an 
errand of mercy, and the bearer of the heavenly 
news of peace on earth and good-will to men. Here 
we are brought again to the intent with which he 
delivered his sermon, and if we take the usual crite- 
rion of judging of a man's intent from what he says 
and does, it must be manifest to you that he is inno- 
cent of the charge against him. In his introductory 
prayer he displayed Christian charity for the entire 
assembly. He preached to all the divine doctrines 
of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Je- 
sus Christ ; and although pointed in his discourse 
against the evil of slavery, and sometimes severe 
upon bad masters, in the peroration of his address, 
when addressing the negroes, he not only gave them 
the terrors of hell and the whole law, if they lived 
and died in sin, but he admonished them, as directed 
in the canons of his Church, " to render due respect 



232 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

and obedience to the commands and interests of 
their respective masters." This is proved by so 
many respectable witnesses that no -one will attempt 
to deny it. ISTow, how can any rational human being 
who has not his judgment perverted by prejudice, 
infer from this that the traverser was seditiously en- 
deavoring to provoke the negroes to break the peace 
of the state upon their respective masters, and resist 
their lawful commands. 

In the third count of this indictment the prosecu- 
tion, throwing off all reserve, charges the traverser 
with endeavoring in the sermon he preached to stir 
up the negroes " actually to raise insurrection and re- 
bellion in this state, in contempt and in open violation 
of the laws." There is rather more turpitude in the 
charge in this count than there is in the charge in 
the first one, but in both they are absurd enough to 
secure their own refutation. And I am satisfied that 
no gentleman on this jury will believe for one mo- 
ment, from the facts disclosed, that the traverser was 
endeavoring in his sermon to incite the slaves to 
seize the government of the state. Such stuff may 
be palatable to men, who, from the frailty of human 
nature, are in truth ^persecuting a man who, they 
think, deserves punishment ; but to you who are 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 233 

faithful and impartial triers of the traverser no argu- 
ment can be necessary from me to refute it, and I 
shall therefore offer none. 

Let US for a moment examine the origin of negro 
slavery, and the mighty range of mischief in a moral 
point of view continually resulting from it, and we 
shall find much t6 justify and applaud tlie zeal of a 
philanthropist in his endeavors to remove it from our 
national character. In the fifteenth century the 
boldness of enterprise and improving skill in naviga- 
tion among the Portuguese led by accident to the 
discovery of the vast continent of Africa, washed by 
the Atlantic and stretching, apparently to them, with- 
out limits to the south. Gonzales Zarco and Tristran 
Yaz, two gentlemen of the houseiiold of Henry lY,, 
were sent out and instructed by him " to endeavor 
by all means to double Cape Bojador and advance 
farther toward the south. They pursued the timid 
mode of coasting which then prevailed until a sud- 
den squall of wind drove them by accident to sea, 
where they discovered an unknown island, and after- 
ward returned to Portugal witli the news, which 
seemed to enlarge the field of discovery, and the next 
year another expedition was fitted out which discov- 
ered the vast continent of Africa." The improve- 



234 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

ment iu navigation, and the polish and blessings it 
has been the instrument in dispensing by means of 
commerce with the rest of the world, has carried 
nothing but trouble and vexation of spirit to Africa. 
Instead of extending to the people of that continent 
the blessings of improved politics and the comforta- 
ble and cheering light of the Christian religion, it has 
given them a monopoly of all the misery of the 
world, and it still remains an "indelible reproach 
on the name of Europeans that for more than three 
centuries their intercourse with the people has 
tended only to destroy their happiness and debase 
their character." Toward the end of the fifteenth 
century the Spaniards, having taken possession of the 
West Indies, encouraged Portuguese traders to bring 
them slaves from Africa. " The same policy was 
afterward pursued by the English, and here began 
the accursed slave-trade. The arts of the slave mer- 
chant inflame the hostility of the various tribes, 
heighten their ferocity, and increase the frequency 
of their wars with each other, that he may buy the 
captives of the victors like oxen in the market. 
Many of them are stolen and carried into slavery, 
and otherwise obtained by the most fraudulent and 
indirect methods ; and when taken to a foreign mar- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 235 

ket the buyer seems to think, from habit, without fur- 
ther inquiry, that their being black and imported 
from Africa are alone sufficient to fix them in slav- 
ery for life and to entail the same ruin upon their off- 
spring." The only credible account extant of the 
origin of mankind is that which we have in Scrip- 
ture. And if we acquiesce in it we must believe 
that God " hath made of one blood all nations of men 
for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath de- 
termined the times before appointed and the bounds 
of their habitation." Acts xvii, 26. We cannot reject 
this upon '' rational grounds till we have first proved, 
either from more authentic records, or from the na- 
ture of things, that it is not true," It will not be 
pretended that we have any records more authentic, 
and we have no table of genealogy " whereby it can 
be made to appear that negroes are not descended 
from Adam and Eve," . We must argue, therefore, 
from the nature of the thing, if we argue at all on the 
subject ; and I think there is nothing in the nature 
of the negro, in his soul or in his body, which may 
not easily be accounted for on the supposition that 
he and the whites are of the same family, (Elements 
of Moral Science, p. 222.) The negro then is not 
indigenous to Africa, for the man of learning and 



236 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

observation perceives the affinity of nations in the 
whole family of men. The negro and the white man 
have grown from the same stock, have lost tlie same 
favor of God in paradise by the crime of the first 
offender, and may be restored to his favor again 
throna^h the merits of the same common Savionr. 
Yiewing this subject throngh a Gospel medium, 
what a scene do we behold ; one part of a family en- 
slaved by another part, entailing upon innocent chil- 
dren a thralldom which can only end with life, and 
at wliich the whites would shrink with horror if it 
were inflicted upon them or their children, even for 
a crime. 

The traverser, as his Master once w^as, is now 
humbled in the furnace of affliction, to rise presently 
in a splendid glory and triumph he little anticipated. 
In the former part of his life he has been content to 
labor in the vineyard of Christ in obedience to his 
call to the ministry. But this proseciition will bring 
him before the w^orld as* a distinguished philanthro- 
pist, declaring no other thing on this subject than 
eminent philosophers have declared before him, 
whose declarations and sentiments, with your per- 
mission, I will read to you, beginning first with the 
sentiments of Dr. Beattie: 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 287 

'' Slavery is inconsistent with the dearest and most 
essential rights of man's nature ; it is detrimental to 
virtue and industry; it hardens the heart to tliose 
tender sympathies which form the most lovely part 
of the human character ; it involves the innocent 
in hopeless misery in order to procure wealth and 
pleasure for the authors of that misery ; it seeks to 
degrade into brutes beings whom the Lord of heaven 
and earth endowed with rational souls and created 
for immortality ; in short, it is utterly repugnant to 
every principle of reason, religion, humanity, and 
conscience ; and one eminent author hath explicitly 
declared that he who can seriously argue in vindica- 
tion of slavery deserves no other answer than the 
stab of a poniard. To my shame and sorrow, and 
to the disgrace of human nature^ I must confess that 
slavery is of ancient date. Among savages it prob- 
ably took its rise, or among men half civilized. 
Every man worthy of the honor of being a Briton 
holds it in utter abomination. The ingenious or the 
dull, the learned or the ignorant, the clownisli or 
polite, every innocent man, without exception, has 
as good a right to liberty as to life." Again the 
same author: "Every generous mind considers slav- 
ery as worse than death, and so in fact it is. Death 



238 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

affects the person only who dies, and who must soon 
die at any rate ; but slavery may extend its baleful 
influence to the innocent children of the enslaved 
person, and even to their descendants." Again the 
same author : ^' It is impossible for a considerate and 
unprejudiced mind to think of slavery without horror ; 
that a man, a rational and immortal being, should be 
treated on the same footing with a beast, or piece of 
wood, and bought and sold and entirely subjected to 
the will of another man whose equal he is by nature, 
and whose superior he may be in virtue and under- 
standing ; and all for no crime, but merely because 
he differs from us in the shape of his nose, the color 
of his skin, or the size of his lips. If this be equitable, 
or excusable, or pardonable, it is in vain to talk any 
longer of the eternal distinctions of right and wrong, 
truth and falsehood, good and evil." Again the 
same author: "This [meaning the practice of slavery] 
therefore is a most infamous business; and though 
slavery cannot all at once be abolished, it ought to be, 
and may be, and probably will be discontinued grad- 
ually." Again the same author : " Who are they 
who tempt those unhappy people, by every sort of 
bribery that can be supposed to have influence on 
them, to plunder and betray every man his neighbor 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 239 

in order to get together a multitude of human vic- 
tims to answer the yearly demand ? Are not Euro- 
peans and European planters the first movers in this 
dreadful business ? Does it then become them to 
charge Africa with the whole guilt of a commerce 
which, but for their cunning cruelty and avarice, 
would not now exist, and would never have existed ? 
This sort of casuistry may justly be termed diabolical; 
for it is thus that the most malevolent of all beings is 
said first to tempt and corrupt and then to accuse." 
Again the same author : " He who buys a human 
being with a view to reduce him to the condition of 
a wretched negro slave, does everything in his 
power to destroy the soul and body of that human 
being in order to get money for himself." Again 
the same author : " What then shall we say of the 
condition of a negro slave ? Let us make his case 
our own, and "ask ourselves whether death or it be 
the more desirable. To be stolen, or decoyed, or 
forced from our native country for no crime of ours, 
and by those we have never injured ; to be stowed, 
like lumber, amid darkness and death perhaps, and 
putrefaction, in the lower decks of a ship, sailing we 
know not whither, to be stripped naked and sold like 
beasts in a market; to be driven away by the scourge 



240 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

of the overseer into hopeless slavery in a strange 
land, where we find thousands of our countrymen in 
the same circumstances ; to be compelled to labor, 
with little or no intermission or shelter, under the 
burning sun of a tropical climate ; to be ourselves 
punished, and see our friends and innocent children 
punished, with unrelenting severity, for a slight 
offense, or merely to gratify the unmeaning rage of 
a merciless oppressor ; to be subjected to laws by 
which we are declared to be brutish slaves ; to know 
that the same destiny^ awaits our posterity, and that 
death alone will deliver us and them from the horrors 
of this condition ; to see our companions dying round 
us every day in consequence of the miseries thej un- 
dergo, and, what is worst of all, to be obliged to 
spend our lives in the service of our tyrants; are 
these desirable circumstances? are they likely to 
make any rational being happy? are they not worse 
than a thousand deaths ?" Again the same author : 
"It is well observed by Homer, whose knowledge of 
the human heart no person who understands him 
will ever call in question, that ' when a man is 
made a slave he loses from that day the half of his 
virtue.' And Longinus, quoting the same passage, 
affirms that 'slavery, however mild, may still be 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 241 

called the prison of the soul and a public dungeon.' 
And Tacitus remarks that 'even wild animals lose 
their spirit when deprived of their freedom.' 'Slav- 
ery,' says Montcscpiieu, ' niakes the master insensi- 
bly neglect every moral virtue, and become proud, 
passionate, hard hearted, violent, and cruel.'" Again 
the same author : " With all the advantages we have 
derived from philosophy, religion, and the manners 
of civilized life, if we were to suppose our country 
invaded, and our rights violated by African negroes, 
as cruelly as their rights are violated by some Euro- 
pean slave merchants and planters, we should say of 
them with truth that they were such barbarians as to 
deserve at our hands no other return than final exterm- 
ination. And if our power were equal to our 
wishes and privileges, and if our deliverance could 
be effected by no other means, we should arm our- 
selves with the rights of nature, and sweep our de- 
stroyers from the face of the earth. And if we did 
so who would blame us ?" 

■I will next introduce the opinions of Mr. Paley. 
"Writing on the African slave-trade he observes : 
" But defect of right in the first purchase is the least 
crime with which the trafiic is cluirgeable. The 

natives are excited to war and mutual depredation 

16 



242 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

for the sake of supplying tlieir contracts, or furnish- 
inor the market with slaves. With this the wicked- 
ness begins. The slaves, torn away from parents, 
wives, cliildren ; from their friends and companions, 
their fields and flocks, their home and country ; are 
transported to the European settlements in America, 
with no other accommodation on ship-board than 
what is provided for brutes." 

I will now, gentlemen, introduce to you the senti- 
ments of Judge Tucker, of Virginia, upon the subject 
of slavery, in which you will find this distinguished 
judge, mourning over his native land for this national 
sin, still more pathetic, and with a point more 
severe, tlian can be found in the discourse of the 
traverser. The judge begins : " Among the blessings 
which the Almighty hath showered down on these 
states, there is a large portion of the bitterest draught 
that ever flowed from the cup of aflliction. While 
America hath been the land of promise to Europeans 
and their descendants, it hath been the vale of death 
to millions of the wretched sons of Africa. The genial 
light of liberty, which hath here shone with un- 
rivaled Insteron the former, liath yielded no comfort 
to the latter; but to them hath proved a pillar of 
darkness, while it hath conducted the former to the 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 243 

most enviable state of human existence. While we 
were offering up vows at the shrine of liberty, and 
sacrificing hecatombs upon her altars; w^hile we 
swore irreconcilable hostility to her enemies, and 
hurled defiance in their faces ; while we adjured the 
God of hosts to witness our resolution to live free or 
die, and imprecated curses on their heads who refused 
to unite with us in establishing the empire of free- 
dom, we were imposing upon our fellow-men, who 
differ in complexion from us, a slavery ten thousand 
times more cruel than the utmost extremity of those 
grievances and oppressions of which we complained. 
Had we turned our eyes inwardly when we suppli- 
cated the Father of mercies to aid the injured and 
oppressed ; when w^e invoked the Author of right- 
eousness to attest the purity of our motives and the 
justice of our cause, and implored the God of battles 
to aid our exertions in its defense, should we not 
have stood more self-convicted than the contrite pub- 
lican? Should we not have left our gift upon the 
altar, that we might be first reconciled to our l)retli- 
ren whom we held in bondage ? Should we not have 
loosed their chains and broken their fetters, or, if the 
difficulties and dangers of such an experiment pro- 
hibited the attempt during the convulsions of a revo- 



244 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

lutioii, is it not our duty to embrace the first moment 
of constitutional health and vigor to effectuate so 
desirable an object, and to remove from us a stigma 
with which our enemies will never fail to upbraid us, 
nor our consciences to reproach us? Our forefathers 
have sown the seeds of an evil which, like a leprosy, 
hath descended upon their posterity with accumu- 
lated rancor, visiting the sins of the fathers upon 
succeeding generations. It is a tyrannical and iniq- 
uitous policy which holds so many human creatures 
in a state of grievous bondage." And again the 
same judge : " But if the voice of reason, justice, and 
humanity be not stifled by sordid avarice or unfeeling 
tyranny, it would be easy to convince even those 
who have entertained erroneous notions, that the right 
of one man over another is neither founded in nature 
nor sound policy. Will not our posterity curse the 
days of their nativity with all the anguish of Job ? 
Will they not execrate the memory of those ancestors 
who, having it in their power to avert evil, have, 
like their first parents, entailed a curse upon all fu- 
ture generations ? What a blood-stained code must 
that be, which is calculated for the restraint of mill- 
ions held in bondage ! Such must our unhappy 
country exhibit within a century, unless we are both 



LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 245 

wise and just enough to avert from posterity the 
cahiinitj and reproach which are otherwise un- 
avoidable. 

Before I close with the opinions of eminent men, 
I will give you those of Mr. Jefferson on the subject 
of slavery. For correct sentiments and opinions in 
political philosophy, it is believed the witnesses for 
the prosecution consider this distinguished American 
unrivaled ; and when you are informed of the free- 
dom with which he discussed the subject of negro 
slavery, you will at least be surprised that an exam- 
ple so high could not afford excuse enough for the 
preacher to save liim from the ignominy of a felon. 
This distinguished patriot observes : " It is a problem 
which I give to the master to solve, whether the 
religious precepts against the violation of property 
were not framed for him as well as his slave ? and 
whether the slave may not as justifiably take a little 
from one who has taken all from him, as he may slay 
one who would slay him ?" The above observation, 
with a little transposition of words, gives you tlie 
following sentiment : '• That a negro slave has as 
much right, according to the law of nature, to steal a 
little from his master, as his master has to take all 
his liberty from him." Again the same author, re- 



246 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

marking on the liberty of the negroes, observes : 
" That they are not to be violated but with the wrath 
of God. Indeed," he says, " I tremble for my coun- 
try when I reflect that God is just ; that his justice 
cannot sleep forever; that, considering numbers, 
nature, and natural means only, a revolution of the 
wheel of fortune and exchange of situation is among 
possible events ; that it may become probable by 
supernatural interference ! The Almighty has no 
attribute that takes side with us in such a contest." 

Jefferson and Tucker reside in the state of Yir- 
ginia, one of the principal negro states ; and although 
they have declared their sentiments on the subject 
with more freedom than the traverser, and these 
sentiments may, by reading, be made known to 
the negroes of that state, and may, in some remote 
possible degree, possess seeds of mischief, yet as they 
were written with innocent views, to maintain an 
argument, they have lost no popularitj^ by it, but on 
the contrary they have, with the good-will of their 
fellow-citizens, filled some very high posts of honor 
and profit. Suppose a speaker in a political or 
religious harangue against slavery should, to effect 
his purpose of convincing his audience, read the 
extracts just quoted and comment on them in the 



LIFE OP JACOB GRUBER. 247 

hearing of slaves, ought the bare circumstance of 
the slaves listening to him, though he knew it, to be 
received as evidence of a criminal intent? You 
will doubtless, gentlemen, at once say, it ought not. 
Good men might differ in opinion as to the propriety 
of discussing such a subject in plain language in the 
presence of slaves; but no good and wise man could 
hesitate in declaring that any attempt to arraign the 
speaker as a criminal for such an exercise of the 
liberty of speech, to punish him as for a crime 
because his prosecutors did not like his matter or 
his manner, would be unauthorized by law, and if 
sanctioned by judicial authority, would introduce 
among us a despotism greatly to be deplored. 

The prosecutors seem to think that the criminal 
intent is to be found because the preacher was vehe- 
ment in his manner. Dr. Finley, one of the witness- 
es for the state, informs you that he has heard the 
traverser preach often ; that he is usually animated, 
and was not more so than common when the sermon 
in question was delivered. I confess to you, sirs, that 
my sensibility is greatly awakened on this occasion. 
The traverser holds a rank in his Church second 
to the bishop. He is my pastor and friend, with 
whom I have had an acquaintance for several years. 



248 ' LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

He is a, blunt, plain, honest-hearted man, in whom 
there is no disposition to use guile enough to evade 
the intrigues of his enemies. In his accusation Zion 
is wounded and the whole Church in tears, and he 
waits with his surrounding friends to be delivered by 
you from the furnace of affliction. 

After Mr. Pigman concluded, Mr. Taney, in a 
speech of about an hour's continuance, with his 
usual eloquence and zeal, made a most effectual and 
conclusive argument to the jury on the part of Mr. 
Gruber. After Mr. Taney concluded, the jury, wish- 
ing to have som^e conversation on the subject in 
private, retired from the box, but immediately 
returned again, and answering to the usual call of 
the clerk, pronounced, through their foreman, a 
verdict of IsTot Guilty. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 249 



CHAPTEE YII. 

Rev, David Martin — Testimony of the Bible — Traffic in Slaves — Gru- 
ber's Sermon at Camp-meeting — Different kinds of Hearers — Republi- 
can Slaveholders — History of An-est and Trial — Reflections — Eeview 
of the Trial — Lawyers — Inefficiency and Uncertainty of Law — Love 
of Money — Conference — Bishop Roberts — Exercise of Episcopal 
Functions — Bishop's Cabinet — The Way Appointments are now 
made — Right of Choice — Frederic Circuit — Rest Week — Incident 
illustrating the Power of Bigotry. 

Having learned that the Hev. David Martin intended 
publishing the trial, Gruber wrote him as follows : 
"As you are about to publish my trial, which has 
been considered a new thing under the sun, I think 
it my duty to state a few things, which you may pub- 
lish if you deem proper, for the information of those 
who are anxious to see and hear old as well as new 
things : 

"I am a native of Pennsylvania. My father and 
mother were both born in that state. I received my 
education there. I experienced religion there, etc. 
I learned to read the Holy Scriptures when I was a 
little boy. It was then a custom to read them in 
schools, which is not now the fashion in some parts. 



250 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

I will put down a few passages whicli I read, and 
tliey are still in the Bible; but )'ou and the public 
may determine how far many of our great and little 
people conform unto them. 

"The law of God says, Exodus xxi, 16: 'He that 
stealeth a man and selleth him, or if he be found in 
his hand, he shall surely be put to death.' Again, 
Deut. xxiv, 7 : * If a man be found stealing any of his 
brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh mer- 
chandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall 
die.' 'Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal.' This 
law, in the comprehension of the Israelites, solely 
prohibits man-theft — detaining j^ersons in perpetual 
bondage. ' Thou shalt not bear false witness against 
thy neighbor.' No man can claim and possess a 
slave as propert}^ until he has virtually sworn that 
men, women, and children are brutes. 'Thou shalt 
not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shalt not covet 
thy neighbor's wife,' etc. Exodus xx, 13. Again it 
is written, 'Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, 
nor rob him.' Leviticus xix, 13. 'Thou shalt not 
oppress him who is poor and needy, lest he cry 
against thee unto the Lord, and it be a sin unto thee.' 
Deut. xxiv, 14, 15. 

"I will give you a few more passages out of the 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 251 

New Testament ; some may read your publication 
wlio do not read the Scripture with much attention : 
'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain 
mercy.' Matt, v, 7. ' Therefore, all things whatso- 
ever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even 
so to them ; for this is the law and the prophets.' 
Matt, vii, 12. 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor [that 
is, all men] as thyself.' Matt, xxii, 39. 'Seeing he 
[God] giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 
and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to 
dwell on all the face of the earth,' etc. Acts xvii, 25, 
26. 'Be kindly affectioned one to another, with 
brotherly love.' Rom. xii, 10. 'Love worketh no ill 
to his neighbor ; therefore love is tlie fulfilling of the 
law.' Rom. xiii, 10. 'Ye are bought witli a price.' 
1 Cor. vii, 23. ' And, ye masters, do the same things 
unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that 
your Master also is in heaven ; neither is there re- 
spect of persons with him.' Eph. vi, 9. ' Masters, give 
unto your servants that which is just and equal ; 
knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.' Col. 
iv, 1. ' Behold, the hire of the laborers who have 
reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back 
by fraud, crieth ; and the cries of them which have 
reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sa- 



252 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

Daotli.' James v, 4. 'The merchants [of beasts and 
sheep, and horses and chariots, and slaves and souls 
of men] shall stand afar off, weeping and wailing.' 
Rev. xviii, 15, etc., etc. 

" These passages need little or no comment to any 
who wish to see what is right, and that traffic in 
slaves is totally irreconcilable with the principles of 
justice and humanity, not to say Christianity. 

"As a believer in the Holy Scriptures, and a minis- 
ter of the Gospel, I attended the camp-meeting in 
Washington county in August last, and on the Sab- 
bath, after two sermons were preached, and a short 
intermission, (not succeeding in getting a preacher to 
preach the third,) I preached the sermon of which 
you have the substance, or the leading ideas ; in 
which I strove to give a portion to every one, either 
in season or out of season ; so I drew the Gospel bow 
at a venture, quite willing that every shot that missed 
should go for nothing. I desired to do good, to 
gather up the fragments that nothing should be lost ; 
but to my grief, I found some did not like the man- 
ner in which I served out the different portions; 
some went away grumbling and talking; others, 
when they found their portion so honestly allowed 
them even by their neighbors, looked rather cross ; 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 253 

not well pleased ; resolved not to hear or pay any 
more attention. Some heard or recollected nothing 
of the sermon except some words which I never said. 
Many who intended to prove all, and hold fast what 
was good, heard me out, and have not forgotten the 
text, nor a considerable part of the sermon ; yet I 
labored rather nnder a disadvantage, being a stranger 
in the place. I knew that I w^as in a free country, 
(free to all that were not slaves,) but I did not know 
that 1 was in the very county wdiere liberty and 
independence were in bloom, so that even the state 
was to be blessed with a governor that grew in it. 
As for politics, you know, I never meddle with them 
in my administrations or discourses ; for, to be can- 
did, I don't understand some of their phrases. I 
have heard of republican slaveholders, but I under- 
stand no more what it means than sober drunkards. 

" It happened so that I dropped a few hints about 
slavery or oppression ; some of the great men went 
and got a state warrant for me, a copy of which you 
have to publish. About two months after the war- 
rant was issued I was arrested at a quarterly meeting 
in Williamsport. I gave securit}- for my appearance 
at court, to be held in jSTovember, as the recog- 
nizance will show. I was arrested for felony, and 



254 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

had to give security for one hundred dollars. 
With serious inconvenience, trouble, and expense, I 
had to leave or give up my regular course of appoint- 
ments and attend the court in Hagerstown. I 
appeared the first day, heard the charge given to 
the grand jury, which was short but full of meaning ; 
I suppose much better understood by the jurors than 
by me, who was not accustomed to hear such 
charges. I waited from day to day, and you may 
be surprised to hear that I had to wait more than 
two weeks before tliey found a bill against me. In 
this time they surely had time to get slaveholders, 
overseers. Churchmen, Methodists, free-thinkers, half- 
thinkers, and no-thinkers to bear witness against me 
about the rebellion and insurrection. So abundant 
and so clear was the evidence in this dark business 
before the grand jury, that after two wrecks' sitting 
twelve or thirteen could find a true bill without suf- 
fering any statement to be made by some of their 
body ; for you must know there was near a half 
dozen of men on the grand jury who liad heard my 
sermon, but they were not allowed to say what they 
saw and heard themselves. The indictment came 
out for tnisderneanor^ 7nutiny^ inciting rebellion^ diso- 
hedietice^ etc., as you will find in the copy of the 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 255 

indictment which you liave. I think it rather a for- 
tunate circumstance that the indictment did not 
include or mention an intention to effect or bring 
about a resurrection among the slaves who had been 
dead for years, for tliis might have been put in with 
as much truth as either of the other counts. 

"As soon as thej brought in the true bill I 
resolved to remove it out of the county, for which I 
had a sufficient reason. In removing my trial I had 
the privilege granted to take it to Frederic county. 
I gave security of four hundred dollars for my 
appearance on the first Monday of March. I ap- 
peared, and on the second day had about twenty 
witnesses ready; but the state's evidences did not 
get ready, at least the trial did not come on till the 
tenth day, from which time you have all the pro- 
ceedings, which you may publish as full and as clear 
as you can, so that my friends and enemies may see 
this new thing under the sun and under the moon, 
and learn to understand a matter before they pass 
sentence ; for I am sorry to say I have heard of some 
in your county who were very free in speaking and 
liberal in their way of blessing me : some wished me 
hung, some sent to the penitentiary, others would 
have been almost satisfied if I had got thirty-nine 



256 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

lashes, perhaps altogether, if they liad had the honor 
of laying them on. What a pity that such don't 
move to Washington county to get into office. 

" I have only one remark more to make and I am 
done. Some have been in hopes that I had learned 
a useful lesson in my trial. But whatever I have 
learned, I can assure you I have not yet learned to 
call good evil^ or evil good. I hope while I keep my 
senses I shall consider involvMtary perpetual sla/oery 
miserable injustice, a system of robbery and theft. 
I hope I never shall rank men, v/omen, and children 
with horses, and cows, and property, and counte- 
nance or justify such sales and merchandise. May 
our merciful God save us from this sin and reproach, 
and let every honest man say amen !" 

Having passed through the fiery ordeal of tlie law 
for what he considered preaching the Gospel, it was 
natural that he should indulge in some reflections. 
We find the following amusing account of his trial 
and the attendant circumstances in his journal: 

" I had four lawyers ; most of tliem politely 
pleaded my cause without fee or reward. There 
was a great crowd, curiosity, and excitement at the 
court ; many wanted to see the criminal a candidate 
for the penitentiary ; some to hear witnesses ; many 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 25? 

to hear the lawyers plead, and the charge of the 
judge ; and finally, the verdict of the jury, how long 
the prisoner should remain in the penitentiary, as 
the crime was said to be an attempt to raise an 
insurrection among the slaves to rise against their 
masters, etc. My lawyers spoke well; but it was 
thought b}^ many that after the witnesses were all 
heard the jury could have decided without leaving 
the box. But all must be done in form and order ; 
there was no hurry, time was taken, long speeches 
made, the charge delivered, the jury retired, (not 
very long,) and returned soon. The foreman spoke 
the verdict : JN'ot guilty. So I got clear of my ene- 
mies, but not of some of my friends; they had 
promised my chief lawyer, whom they employed 
without my knowledge or request, two hundred 
dollars. Tliey kept close to me till I was pronounced 
not guilty ; so I was clear, and they quickly cleared 
themselves, and left me to pay what they had prom- 
ised. Several right-hand friends and true thought it 
hard that I should give all my allowance for two 
years' hard labor to try a case in court more for their 
benefit than my own ; so they gave me a little assist- 
ance, a few dollars. But what was a mistake for 

certain, after all was done it was reported, and per- 

17 



258 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

haps believed by some, tluit my chief lawyer had 
pleaded my cause gratis; but I know better; I know 
who paid him two hundred dollars, and I know too 
out of whose pocket by far the most of it came. 

" Solomon said, ' He that increasetli knowledge 
increaseth sorrow\' I am not the happier or richer 
for some knowledge I have. Let me write a little 
more about this lawsuit. Some advised me to sue 
for damages ; others said, that would look like seek- 
ing revenge. I was cleared, and should love and 
pray for my enemies. One of the lawyers advised 
me to bring a suit ; that heavy damages could be 
recovered ; to engage Lawyer Pinckney, one of the 
greatest lawyers in the state, and take it to the Su- 
preme Court. I requested liim to speak to Lawyer 
Pinckney, and asked him wdiat he would charge or 
take to carry this case through court. Law^yer 
Pinckney's answer was, he would give his services 
without fee or reward; that he took nothing from 
minister. 

" My lawyer stated this to me, and said, now we 
could make these fellows smart who wanted to send 
you to the penitentiary; this will do for them. ]N'ow 
I thought was a time to try the lawyer, so I told 
him ray business was with the Gospel. But he 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. '259 

might try the law ; he might bring the suit for dam- 
ages, get Lawyer Pinckney, and whoever he thought 
proper, as he was acquainted with the wliole matter ; 
and I would agree that he should have half the dam- 
ages they would recover ; the other half should be 
applied to meeting-houses for the benefit of the 
district ; I did not want one dollar of it. The lawyer 
scratched his head, and said heavy damages could 
be recovered, and I had best agree to pay a certain 
sum to the lawyers to bring and carry on the suit. I 
said, Now I see ; though some say ten thousand dol- 
lars or more can be recovered, yet you w^ould have 
me pay out of my own pocket I know not how much, 
rather than trust for half the damages to be recov- 
ered, though I want or would take nothing for my 
benefit. The court had no more trouble about me. 

"If I should get into any difficulty, and had to 
apply to a lawyer, and he should advise me to take it 
to court, I would ask him how much I must give 
him to gain my cause. When he names the sum I 
will agree to give it. But he must agree to have 
nothing if he does not gain it, but loses it. If he 
objects to this agreement, I object to taking it to 
court ; so here is an end of that trial." 

It will be seen from the above that he became 



260 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

fully satisfied that whatever the law might do for a 
man's character it was not very well calculated to 
benefit his finances ; and although a man's money is 
"trash" when compared with his "good name," yet 
the want of it m.ay sometimes prove almost as great 
an evil as the love of it, and lead to equally disastrous 
results. Up to this time he was an unmarried man ; 
his wants were few, and as he practiced the most 
rigid economy he was enabled from his salary, small 
as it was, to lay up something in store for bad 
weather. It was perhaps the fact of his ability 
to pay the lawj^er's fee, rather than any want of 
benevolence on the part of his friends, that caused 
them to withhold assistance. Good advice and well- 
wishing cost but little, and friends are not w^anting 
to volunteer both in the time of trial; and it often 
happens that those who are the most benevolent in 
this line are found most sadly wanting when material 
aid is necessary. 

At the conclusion of his trial he hastened on to 
conference, which was held at Alexandria on the 
10th day of March, 1819. Having completed his 
quadrennial term on the Carlisle district, he did not 
feel anxious to take another district. Bishop M'Ken- 
dree had spoken to him previously about taking a 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 261 

transfer to the Missouri Conference. Bishop Roberts, 
who presided at this conference, informed him that 
there was an appointment left for him in the Missouri 
Conference, but he dissuaded him from going, as he 
had seen quite hard times in traveling over the 
roughest portions of the Baltimore and Philadelphia 
Conferences, and thought some other preacher whose 
service had not been so hard should be sent in his 
place. Gruber felt perfectly willing to submit to the 
judgment of his superiors in the ministry, and rarely, 
if ever, entered into any negotiations in reference to 
his appointment. In those days the bishops were 
permitted, without let or hinderance, to exercise 
their constitutional episcopal prerogative in sending 
preachers wherever their judgment might dictate, 
and it seldom happened that any "son in the Gospel" 
called in question the appointments of the bishops, 
or sought in any way to interfere with or influence 
them in the eKcrcise of their power. The constitution 
of the Church gives to the bishops the sole power to 
appoint the preachers to their respective fields of 
labor. In the days of Asbury and M'Kendree the 
appointments emanated mostly from the episcopacy. 
As the Church increased, and the ministry became 
more numerous, so much so that the bishops could 



262 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

not become personall}^ acquainted with " the gifts, 
grace, and usefulness" of the preachers, it became 
necessarj^ to depend for information upon the presid- 
ing elders, and they became their advisers, forming 
what has been denominated the bishop's cabinet. 
But latterly so effectually has the episcopacy been 
shorn of its appointing power, that many appoint- 
ments are rarely made by it through the cabinet, they 
having been arranged months beforehand by the 
preacher and a few influential members of the charge. 
The appointment, however, passes through the forms, 
the presiding elder nominating and the bishops con- 
firming. Though this new custom relieves the epis- 
copacy and the presiding eldership of a vast amount 
of I'esponsibility, yet we doubt very much its policy, 
and believe that a return to the old landmarks and 
the practice of the fathers would prove more con- 
ducive to the real welfare and progress of the Church. 
But to return to our subject. Bishop ^ Roberts told 
Gruber he might have his choice of a district or a 
circuit, remarking that he had traveled longer than 
he himself had done, and it was right and proper Jie 
should have a choice. At this he was surprised, and 
remarked that "no bishop had ever treated liim tliat 
way before." He replied to the bishop's kind offer, 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 263 

that he " would take a circuit among the mountains 
only for one reason, and that was, some might sav 
they had cleared him out of Maryland." He sug- 
gested that it would he more in accordance with his 
wishes to have a circuit somewliere in the neighbor- 
hood of the place wliere he had his trial. Accord- 
ingly at the close of the conference his name was 
announced in connection with Frederic circuit, a 
large field embracing Westminster, Pipe Creek, 
Sam's Creek, Emmetshurgh, Linganore, Liberty, 
Israel's Creek, ISTew Market, Frederic, Middletown, 
and other places. During his labors on this circuit 
there were many refreshing seasons at the different 
appointments, and considerable additions were made 
to the Church. He spent his rest week in w^orking 
at the preacher's house, which was built that year, 
doing the painting, glazing, etc. His extra labor did 
not, however, seem to meet with a due reward from 
some of his parishioners, as the following paragraph 
from one of his letters will show : 

" But a strange return was made to me. When try- 
ing to collect m/)ney subscribed for the house, I was 
called a busybody in other men's matters, and w^orse 
than that. After I was gone charges were sent after 
me, as though I had dealt as a speculator in several 



264 LIFE OF JxVCOB GRUBER. 

things with several persons. The fact was, much of 
the money that was then passing was below par, and 
I had to get par money to pay for books in New 
York, having dealt largely in books ; so I had to 
change money where I could, and some could not get 
off the money they got from me after keeping it too 
long. Some of the preachers got par money from me 
to send to New York ; so I was a money changer, 
and paid some in money below par that answered 
them as well as any other. But when complaint was 
made abont it some put the worst construction upon 
it, though I had for many years paid in more book- 
money yearly than any one I knew ; but now at last 
I lost my credit, and on that account my zeal foi 
bookselling and building the parsonage." 

With all his economy he was truly benevolent, 
and avarice was far from his heart. He loaned 
as well as gave his money freely. Borrowers often 
took the advantage of him. He once remarked to 
Dr. Bond, in relation to one who had borrowed his 
money and had taken the benefit of the insolvent 
act: "He has taken the penefit, and that is no 
penefit to me." 

The following incidents illustrative of the power of 
bigotry we take from his journal : 



I 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 265 

"There lived near the river S., in Maryland, a 
very rigid Calvinist, wliose son went to the Methodist 
meetings, believed their doctrine, and read their 
books, to the great grief of his fatlier, who frequently 
spoke to him and nrged him to read one of his 
favorite books, which he left in tlie shop where they 
Avorked at a trade. The father was much pleased to 
see the son frequently read in the book. So one day, 
w^hile the son was attentively looking in the book, 
and the father present in another part of the shop, 
the son said, 'Father, do you believe all that is in 
this book V ' Yes, every word of it, and I have often 
wished you to read.' ' Well,' said the son, ' I did not 
think you believed such doctrine; let me read you 
some.' He read a choice piece and stopped, saying: 
' Do you believe that V ' Why to be sure ; it is all 
true.' ' Let me read you another part.' He read 
again and stopped to inquire, ' Do you believe all 
that V ' Yes, it is God's eternal truth, and I liave 
been sorry that you did not read more in that book, 
one of the best in the world!' 'Well,' said the son, 
' this is the doctrine I believe, and you may read it 
too ;' and taking a pamphlet which he had slipped 
into the book out of which he read to his father, 
which had a Methodist doctrinal sermon in it, lie 



266 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

gave it to his fatlier, who took it, looked at it, and 
then, in a bad humor, said, 'Why this is Methodist 
stuff — damnable doctrine.' ' O father,' said the son, 
'how prejudice blinds persons. Where is your un- 
derstanding and judgment? When you heard nie 
read what you thought was printed in your book, 
it was all true ; yes, God's eternal truth ; but when 
you found it was a Methodist sermon, it was all false 
and damnable doctrine.' 

" Another case in another place. A member of a 
Church renounced Calvinism and joined the Meth- 
odist Ej)iscopal Church. His brethren did not want 
him to leave them. They appointed a committee to 
visit him, to labor with him, and convince him of his 
error. One of the committee was his brother, who 
it was thought would have most influence over him. 
They went to his house ; he was friendly, they were 
serious. The brother began by saying they had 
come on a serious business. ' What is that V ' Why, 
to convince him of his error in leaving his Church and 
joining the Methodists. ' Well,' said he, " did you ever 
hear a Methodist preach V They said, ' No, it is dan- 
gerous, because they are the false prophets who should 
deceive the very elect if it were possible.' ' Did you 
ever read any Methodist books?' They said, 'No.' 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. SGT 

' Well, let me read a little to yon.' He took a book 
from a shelf and read some, stopped and asked how 
they liked it; they said, 'E"ot at all.' ^ Well, let me 
read yon more.' He did so, and asked, ' How will 
that do ?' ' O worse still,' etc. ' Now let me read in 
another place.' Done. He inquired, ' How do you 
like that V ' O worse than all ! We are astonished 
that a man of your sense and understanding 
should believe such doctrine or read such books.' 
' Stop, now,' said he ; ' did I make a mistake ? this 
don't sound or read like a Methodist book ; look at it 
and read. It is your Confession of Faith.' They 
were blunderstruck ; they thought he was reading in 
a Methodist book, and rejected and reprobated all he 
read, though they were among the sweetest morsels 
of their peculiar creed. So much for sectarian par- 
tiality and blind bigotry." 



268 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 



CHAPTEE Yin. 

Conference at Georgetown — " Haltering the Condition'' — Marriage — 
Housekeeping — Dauphin Circuit — Preacher's Allowance — Traveling 
Expenses — Bishop Asbury's Opinion of City Stations — Frolicking 
Christians — Harvest Sermon — Conference in Philadelphia — Bishop 
Soule — Questions — Appointments — Something strange. 

At the Conference held in Georgetown in the 
spring of 1820, Grnber was desirous of being trans- 
ferred to the Philadelphia Conference, which was to 
hold its session the succeeding month. The presiding 
bishop granted his request. That no time might be 
lost in the interval, he took one round on the 
Carlisle circuit. There was a reason for the change 
in the field of his labor, which was known only to 
himself and another person. He had been in the 
traveling connection now^ twenty years, and believ- 
ing that he had served a good apprenticeship he 
concluded to take a partner for life. To use his own 
words, he " tliought he would halter his condition, as 
some call it." Circumstances were much more 
favorable for such a change in his relation than 
they had been ; the circuits were much smaller, and 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 269 

instead of a few rest days in a month, the preachers 
had a week or more. This made it necessary for 
them to have a home somewhere, and he thought, 
very wisely, that he had better have one of his 
own. He says in his Journal: "I never liked to 
hear of a young preacher having his home at some 
places and staying a whole week, as there would be 
reflections and reports, unless it was with some good 
brother who kept batchelor's hall. Some would ask 
me, ' Where is your home V and my reply would be, 
'Nowhere ; the Discipline prohibits me from spending 
more time in one place than is strictly necessary, and 
we are strangers and sojourners as all our fathers 
were.' " He describes his manner of spending his 
first rest week on Dauphin circuit, the appointment 
he received from the Philadelphia Conference : 
'' I went to Harrisburgh and rented a house for a 
particular friend of mine. After this was done I 
went in a carriage for some things I had left in 
Maryland. The distance was about thirty miles. I 
preached in the evening. The next day I traveled 
about the same distance and got married in the 
evening. The day following was spent in packing 
up, and the day after I started out on my return trip, 
arrived safe at Harrisburgh, and put my particular 



270 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

friend in the rented house, went to housekeeping, 
received a number of my acquaintances, preached on 
Sunday, and was off on Monday to fill my regular 
appointments on the circuit." 

Many of the good people were displeased at their 
preacher for marrying. He had carried out the 
advice of Wesley so strictly " in conversing sparingly 
and conducting himself prudently with women" that 
they imagined he was utterly averse to marrying, 
and would remain in a state of single blessedness, 
having the Church only to care for. They were not 
aware of the fact, that as a general thing those who 
pay court to the ladies the least have a higher 
appreciation of them, and are most likely the sooner 
to enter the marriage state. But he had taken all 
by surprise, and, to use his own language, " a tre- 
mendous hue and cry was raised against" him. In 
giving a reason why he deferred the matter so long, 
he says : " I never thought it expedient or proper 
for a young preacher to get married as soon as he 
found a girl silly enough to have him." The 
heaviest charge brought against him was that he 
had married into a family where there were slaves, 
and this was grossly inconsistent with his whole 
course as a preacher. This charge was answered 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 271 

by him as follows : " The fact is, my wife never had 
but one slave, and that one got free two days after 
we were married by getting into Pennsylvania ; so, 
instead of getting any slaves in marriage, I got two 
slaves free in that family, namely, Sally Howard, 
who worked more than any slave in the house, and 
her girl Susey, who was about twenty years of age." 

As he has left a record of his labors in the 
Dauphin circuit for the two years he traveled the 
same, and as this will serve more fully to give our 
readers an idea of the man, we will let him speak 
for himself. He says : 

*' We had peace and prosperity in the circuit ; the 
Lord was with us in mercy and in powder, and we had 
some powerful conversions. One of the professors in 
the Wesleyan University was among them. My col- 
league, H. G. King, was an excellent, zealous young 
man, well received, and successful. I had some 
appointments among the Germans ; tried to preach 
in German where they could not understand English. 
In this year they built the first Methodist meeting- 
house in Harrisburgh, and it was the first year of 
my keeping house. I got one hundred dollars on 
the circuit, paid fifty dollars for house-rent, twenty- 
five dollars for a stove, and gave them twenty 



272 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

dollars toward their meetiiig-Iiouse, so I bad five 
dollars left to live on, except what I had saved by 
economy. Some would not come to hear me preach 
because I took money ; but they did not ask how 
much or how little I got. 

" I will now state what few know. Sixteen years 
of my first traveling the allowance was eighty dol- 
lars a year for quarterage. At the General Con- 
ference in 1816 the quarterage was raised to one 
hundred dollars. That body passed what some called 
the One Hundred Dollar Bill I did not vote for it. 
The more some get the more they want, and are 
always complaining. After conference some asked 
me, ' Will you not take the one hundred dollar quar- 
terage?' I said, 'Yes; but I keep no account of 
expenses.' And from that conference to this time 
I have taken no traveling expenses, except in a very 
few circuits where they had a surplus of money, and 
urged me to bring in my account of traveling ex- 
])enses. I told them they might give me ten dollars 
for a year, but that has seldom happened ; and since 
I began to keep house I never got a dollar from any 
circuit for house-rent or table expenses. Hitherto 
the Lord has helped and kept me alive, and I hope 
to live forever. I often feel sorry for preachers and 



LIFE OF JACOB GFJJBEK. 2Y3 

people. There is too iniich begging and too little 
economy. I had some acquaintance with a preacher 
who in ten years saved eight hundred dollars, and 
had only received eighty dollars a year. Another, 
who got one hundred dollars a year, in eight years 
spent the eight hundred dollars and four hundred 
dollars besides out of his own funds, and he had 
received many more presents than the former. 
Some will take fifty or sixty dollars' traveling ex- 
penses when the most is for resting at home. Bishop 
Asbury used to say, 'The cities spoil our preachers.' 
In the country in many circuits they cannot or do 
not raise three hundred dollars for table expenses 
and house-rent. Sometimes when one of the poor 
preachers gets into the city, into a parsonage, he 
must have six hundred, or eight or nine hundred, 
and at the end of the year he complains he is out 
of pocket. I rather think there is no bottom in his 
pocket. And for the second they go up to a thousand 
dollars for fear of getting a bad name letting their 
parson go away in debt. Now this is wrong. If 
they would teach economy, give at least one hund- 
red dollars less the second year than the first, and 
there would be fewer parties and less vanity, preach- 
ers would learn self-denial as well as preach it, get 

• 18 



2T4 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

cloth according to the means, and then cut the coat 
according to the cloth. When I had traveled ten 
years, three years of which were on a large district, 
the whole amount of my traveling expenses was one 
hundred and twelve dollars and some cents. I had 
fast-days; never stopped at a tavern to buy my 
dinner. When I had to get my horse fed I paid for 
the oats, stood by and kept the chickens from eating 
them, then went on my way." 

In the above we have a specimen of economy 
rather verging to parsimony. It is a remarkable 
fact that nearly all the preachers of that day were 
of the same economic school. The most of them 
were severe in denouncing hireling preachers, and 
we have heard some thank God that they did not 
preach for money. In this respect they carried their 
views a little too far, and the effect was disastrous 
to the financial interests of the Church in general. 
The majority of the people were glad to be relieved 
of the responsibility of paying, and with the preacliers 
they would thank God too that they could belong 
to the Church and enjoy religion without paying a 
cent for it, thus literally having the Gospel " with- 
out money or price." But we shall not further in- 
terrupt the narrative. 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 275 

"I was sent a second year to Dauphin circuit. 
[Nothing extraordinary took place, only some fellows 
of the baser sort made an attempt to blow up our 
meeting-house in Harrisburgh. On a Sunday night 
after preaching they got in at a window, put some- 
thing under the pulpit with powder in it and a match. 
It made a report like a cannon, tore up the pulpit, 
and broke the glass out of some of the windows. "VVe 
soon, however, had all repaired, and pursued our 
course. My colleague this year w^as no King, but 
only a poor thing hunting a fortune. He found out 
who was rich ; but the girls found out that he was 
lazy, as they called it, so he had little success in win- 
ning souls, and none in getting a wife. He spoke, 
to me about what he had better do ; my advice was, 
if he meant to locate, to get married ; if to travel a 
circuit, to keep single. It seems as though some 
young men think if they can only get married (the 
sooner the better) they will be at once in paradise ; 
and some young women have an idea if they can 
only get a preacher they will have an angel for cer- 
tain ; but more than one has been disappointed very 
much. This is a world of trouble ; man is born into 
it, and full of it all of his few days. But many of 
the greatest troubles and misery are brought ou by 



276 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

Master Self; that self is a great disturber of peace, a 
great tliief, destroyer,, and murderer; happy indeed 
are the}^ who deny self, mortifj^ the deeds, and cru- 
cify the flesh with the lusts and aiFections, escape for 
life, and live forever. I finished my w^ork in the 
capital of the state and moved to Germantown, more 
in the center of the conference. 

"While traveling in a German settlement near a 
town I met a farmer ; in talking with him I asked 
him if the people were religious about there. He 
said if I would see them on Sunday at church I 
might think so. Most of the young people w^ere 
baptized, confirmed, and had taken the sacrament; but 
if I should see them at a frolic, playing and dancing ; 
at a vendue, drinking, and quarreling, and fighting; 
and at a muster or parade, men and women, (what ! 
do women muster? No, but they go to see and 
be seen,) would think there was no religion at all 
about here. I found they had an old custom. On 
Sunday after harvest their parson preached a harvest 
sermon, as it was called ; but this year there were 
very few to hear it ; most of the congregation were 
o-one to the mountain to gather whortleberries. It 
would be hard if the poor parson should have to 
preach another thanksgiving sermon when the ber- 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 277 

ries are all gathered ; then when all is safe take a 
week-day for it. That would hinder any from vis- 
iting on Sunday, and having their play and amuse- 
ments." 

At the conference held in Philadelphia in 1820, at 
which Bishop Soule presided, Gruber took occasion 
to propose a question during the examination of the 
character of the presiding elders. After the name 
of the first elder w^as called, and he had given a 
glowing description of his district and the zeal, 
fidelity, talents, and eloquence of his preachers, the 
honest German rose and, addressing the bishop, 
asked if he might be permitted to make an inquiry. 

" Yes, brother, you may propose any proper ques- 
tion," said the dignified bishop. 

" Well, then," said Gruber, " I wish to know if the 
appointments of the preachers have been made." 
The bishop expressed surprise at the question, and 
answered, " Of course not." 

" I know," replied Gruber, " how and when ap- 
pointments were made formerly ; but I confess I 
don't know w4io makes them now, or how long be- 
fore conference they are made. There are some of 
the preachers who could tell three months before the 
conference where they were going, and some were 



278 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

told that there would be no room for them in the dis- 
trict. It would be well for all of ns to know who 
makes the appointments, and how long before the 
conference they are made." At the close of his re- 
marks a member of the conference rose and objected 
to the statements made, and said he regarded them 
as a reflection upon the presiding elder, which should 
not be made in his absence. The elder was accord- 
ingly called in and informed that it had been inti- 
mated that he had made appointments for his preach- 
ers three months before conference. The elder re- 
plied that such was not the case. " He had asked 
preachers how they would like to go to such and 
such circuits, and had received various replies. In 
doing this he meant no harm, but intended good, as 
he thought the preachers would like him better for 
taking an interest in their welfare." 

Such a course would hardly be thought strange at 
the present day, as we sometimes hear of appoint- 
ments being made a year beforehand. This arrange- 
ment, however, is not chargeable to the elders. 



LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 279 



CHAPTER IX. 

Bristol Circuit — Germans and Quakers — Early Field of Labor — Strange 
Texts — A "Wonderful Preacher — Pointless Sermon — Lancaster Cir- 
cuit—Pride, Whisky, and Tobacco — Camp-meeting— Sutlers — A 
Sheep and a Goat — Burlington Circuit — A good Beggar — A Singular 
Druggist — Chester Circuit — J. B. Finley and his Indian Chiefs — 
Presbyterians and Anxious Seats — A Baptist Experience — Philadel- 
phia — St. Geoi^ge's Church — Colleagues — Great Reform in Baltimore 

— Mutual Rights — A fine House — Withdrawal of a Reformer from 
the Church — Singular Certificate — Salem Circuit — Benjamin Abbott 

— Rum Drinking — Tobacco Cliewing — Prosperity — Sermon at St. 
George's in 1830. 

Preferring where we can to let the itinerant speak 
for himself, we shall give the reader his own account 
of subsequent labors : 

"In 1822 I was sent from conference to Bristol 
circuit. It included a large district of country. 
Bristol was twenty miles above Philadelphia, on 
the river, and forty-two miles toward Bethlehem. 
It embraced all the country between Korristown and 
the river Delaware; the different towns, German- 
town, Chestnut Hill, Doylestown, Kewtown, Attle- 
borough, Bustleton, Holmsburgh, Frankford, etc. 
Some of the inhabitants were Germans, and man}^ 



280 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

Quakers, not very friendly to the Methodists. We 
had good and profitable meetings, some snccess, and 
additions to the Church. I was among my old first 
friends, where I started for life and for heaven. My 
friends were almost all in onr Church : my father 
and mother, my two brothers, their wives and chil- 
dren, my brother-in-law and his family. We had 
times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, 
and were in heavenly places in Christ. How de- 
lightful to hear of heaven and learn the way; to have 
a foretaste and an earnest of the inheritance reserved 
for us ! 

'*I had an opportunity here to reflect upon the 
time when I joined the first class when but a boy, 
and a few years after, ,when a mere stripling, was 
leader, and of the mysterious manner in which I was 
thrust out or pressed into the traveling ranks. 

"I was sincere, had some zeal, got along tolerably, 
tried to suit my texts and sermons to my hearers. 
Let me give a sample as a curiosity : When I was in 
Jerusalem I found a suitable text, as I thought, in 
the words: 'And I will wipe Jerusalem as a man 
wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.' 
We had a great sermon, as some said ; but the best 
of it was the Lord blessed us, and we tried to turn 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 281 

things right side up. In another place my text was : 
'And behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey 
in the carcass of the lion.' T/e had a good and 
giiicious time; we got honey without being stung by 
the bees. It was a wonder; but I had made some 
little progress, and was not so hard run to find a text 
now. I think our preachers have made a great im- 
provement since they have so much time to study 
their sermons. Only think of the variety we used to 
have. One had for his text : ' And the Lord showed 
me four carpenters.' Another text: 'Kine and 
twenty knives.' Another: 'One sea and twelve 
oxen.' Another great text : ' I saw by night, and 
behold, a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood 
among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom, and 
behind him were three red horses, speckled and 
white.' This was wonderful ; and to think we had 
such sermons before we had so many colleges and 
so much learning, no wonder some had to be very 
long. But we had some exceptions. A young man 
in Greenbrier could preach more in a quarter of an 
hour than some old preachers in two hours. Take a 
sample. He left a friend's house one morning to go 
to his appointment, and after he got back in the 
afternoon he said: 'I preached, sung, and prayed, 



282 LIFE OF JACOB GP^TTBEP.. 

baptized several children, and^iiiarried a couple, and 
how long do you think it took me to do it V They 
eaid they did not know. 'Well,' said lie, 'just thirty 
minutes.' That was quick work ; but they used t j 
say he was the greatest and most useless preacher 
they ever had on their circuit. Another one, too 
high learned for Greenbrier, they said, began his 
sermon thus: 'Through the imbecility of my body 
I can give you but a short confabulation, which I 
hope will come down with preponderosity upon all 
your minds.' 

"I thought it might not be amiss to drop these 
hints, that some may know that we were not at a 
loss for variety and wonderful preaching a long time 
ago. There was some plain, honest dealing aniong 
the preachers even then. In Pendleton, among the 
mountains, a local preacher who heard one of his 
itinerant brethren preach beyond his depth, thought 
it his privilege to write to him, and among other 
things stated : ' I heard you preach in such a place. 
You took a good text ; you introduced it without an 
introduction, you explained it without an explanation, 
applied it without an application, and concluded by 
saying much more might be said, but you studied 
brevity, and did not wish to weary the congregation.' 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 283 

" I was two years on Bristol circuit. We got 
along as well as we could expect, considering the 
workmen and the materials to work on. I often 
thought if tliere were not fifty and upward added to 
our Church, and some revival in the circuit in a 
year, I might stop and rest ; the Lord did not require 
me to labor or else he would bless my laboi*. And I 
have not got clear of all those thoughts yet. Why 
should we labor and toil all the night, and all the 
day too, and catch nothing, or next to nothing, only 
a few little fishes, or only leeches, if not snakes? 
Still we may not despise the day of small things; 
souls are precious— they cost precious blood. An 
old preacher (now in heaven) told me once if he was 
instrumental in the conversion of one soul on a 
circuit it would be a good year's work. I will give 
thanks, therefore, and take courage. Lord, increase 
my faith ! 

" In 1824 I was sent to Lancaster circuit with 
Brothers T. Miller and L Moore; a six weeks' circuit, 
large and full of appointments, with only one rest 
week. It included Heading, the Forest, Coventry, 
Springfield, Morgan town, Churchtown, Waynesburgh, 
Hew Holland, Sandersburgh, Strasburgh, Little Brit- 
ain, Marti ck, Boehm's Meeting-house, the Manor, Lan- 



284 LIFE OF JACOB GEIJBER. 

caster, Columbia, Wasliiiigton, Marietta, Bainbridge, 
etc., and tlie whole country between tliese places. 
We labored together witli one accord, united against 
the world, the flesh, and the devil, against pride, 
whisky, and tobacco. We had godspeed almost in 
every place. We had three camp-meetings; the Lord 
our God was with us, and the shout of a king in 
every camp, and the shout of many new-born souls; 
a good work all round the circuit. Our last camp- 
meeting was late in tlie season ; it was near the Lan- 
caster and Philadelphia turnpike. At the beginning 
some sutlers wanted to help us. Being out in the 
woods a cart came along, a boy was driving, and a 
plain woman sitting in it; when they came to where I 
w^as she began : ' Can thee tell me if this road leads 
to the camp.' I said ' Yes.' ' Can thee tell me if 
there would be any objections to a person selling 
cakes and beer, and the like at the meeting?' I 
asked, ^ Do you belong to the Methodists?' She 
said ' ISTo.' ' Did they send for you V ' Xo.' ' Why 
then did you come ?' ' I thought some might need re- 
freshment.' ' And did you think we would let them 
suffer? My advice is that you drive back where 
you came from, and when we want you we will 
send for you, then come on.' The cart went back. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 285 

" One evening, while a good work was going on 
in the altar, a young man was leaning against the 
railing talking, and very angry, with a crowd around 
him. I was coming from a tent, and stepping up to 
him asked, * What is the matter?' He said, pointing 
to a man in the altar, 'That fellow frightened a 
young lady who came with me, and has got her 
down there — to the mourner's bench — and he also 
came to n:ie to talk to me, but I made him walk off 
like a sheep.' I found it useless to speak to him, so 
I said, ' When you walk away from here you will go 
like a goat.' At this he got in a rage, and said, 
' Don't call me a goat.' I said, ' Then don't call that 
man a sheep.' His company then turned on him 
and called him a goat. 

" At one of the other camp-meetings a near 
neighbor boasted how he meant to serve the meet- 
ings by boarding and keeping all sorts of folks, and 
making money by it. He carried out his purpose 
and did what he could; but the night after the meet- 
ing closed one of liis boarders stole a horse from his 
stable, which had cost him one hundred dollars just 
before the meeting. So he said he had not made 
anything by the camp-meeting. The devil is a 
cheat and a bad paymaster. 



286 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

""We concluded our year's labor delightfully on the 
circuit, and added to the Church between live and 
six hundred. Had meetings almost day and night. 
Being unwell, I told Bishop George I must have 
easier work or rest at the conference. He had pity 
on me, did not send me back, but let them divide 
the circuit. I know not how many stations and cir- 
cuits there are now in that one Lancaster circuit. 

" At the conference in 1825 Bishop George gave 
me an easy circuit, Burlington in Jersey ; but told 
me he understood it was too small, and requested me 
to enlarge it. But when I went round it I found 
the Delaw^are Biver on one side, at the upper end 
the Trenton circuit, on the other side New Mills, 
and at the lower end Gloucester circuit, all close by ; 
so there was no room to enlarge, unless to make 
stations and divide, w^hich I had not learned. In the 
midst of the circuit there w^erc many Quakers not 
very friendly to the Methodists; for some W'Ould 
rather their children should go to frolics than to 
Methodist meetings. I soon found difficult work. 

"Our friends in Burlington had got a fine lot, and 
built a large brick meeting-house on it, which was in 
debt. They wanted to sink the debt. Two old 
preachers, who had encouraged them to buy, and 



LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. ' 287 

build, and run in debt, would have, and ought to 
have helped and relieved them ; for they had re- 
ceived many favors, presents, and lai'ge fees. But 
they sent them to me, told them that I was a good 
beggar, that I could beg for them. This they soon 
told me. I got a subscription paper, and put my 
name down for five dollars. Next I spoke to one of 
these old preachers to put down his name, but he 
would not. I told him it was wrong that he and the 
other brother should help to get their friends in 
debt, and not help them out after receiving many 
benefits from them ; and at last send them to me, a 
stranger, to beg for them. 'JS'ow,' said I, 'I beg of 
you to help.' He said he would give as much as 
Brother S., the other old preacher, would give ; so I 
went to Brother S., told him to put down liis name 
for a liberal sum, to get the other to be liberal, as he 
had received presents, etc. He would not put down 
his name, but told me he would give a marriage fee 
out of what he got in Burlington if Brother C. would 
give only one that he had got there out of many. 
So I went back to Brotlier C, told liim that Brother 
S. said he would give a marriage fee if he would 
give one he got in the same family. He said, ']^o.' 
I said, ' O do, do give ; and then Brother S. must 



288 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

give, and we will sink the debt.' He would not. I 
told him never to call me a good beggar again if I 
could not get anything from him, for I was trying 
my very best. But all I could say or do I could not 
get one dollar out of either of them. Pity, O pity on 
them ! One of them became poor, and lived misera- 
ble ; the other lived a poor, solitary life, and died 
rich. We got along better than could be expected. 
"We paid our debts, and the work of the Lord pros- 
pered in the circuit. Souls were converted. 

'' There was a singular, good old man in Mount 
Holly who kept a drug and paint store. A fine 
butterfly-looking lady, laced up tight, came into the 
store and asked him, ' Have you any snuff?' The 
old man said, ' Yes; what kind do you want?' She 
said, 'Rubbing snuff.' 'What! rubbing snuff? What 
is that for?' She said, ' For the teeth.' He said, 
' O ho ! I have snuff for the nose, but not for the 
mouth. I don't sell poison to those who don't know 
how to use it.' A little confused, the fine thing said, 
' Have you any paint?' ' Yes, miss. What kind do 
you want ?' She said, ' Some for the cheeks.' The 
old man said, 'I don't know what kind that is, but I 
have different kinds of paint. If you leave your 
head here I will have your face painted any color 



LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 289 

you direct.' She looked queer, went away with- 
out any snuff or paint, and I think he lost a Hue 
customer. We had a variety of good, bad, indiffer- 
ent, and curious things in this circuit; but the best 
of all was, the Lord was witli us in mercy, and fre- 
quently in his Spirit's power, to revive his work and 
convert souls. Thanks, all thanks to the Lord ! 

"In 1826 and 1827 I was on Chester circuit. It 
was a tolerable four wrecks' circuit; had Derby, 
Radnor, and a number of other towns in it, and the 
country round about, and the first year Westchester. 
In 1827 Westchester became a station. The circuit 
was then easier, less work, more rest, more begging; 
wonderful accounts of great and glorious meetings, 
revivals, etc. We calculated on a large increase ; 
but when conference came on we w^ere disappoint- 
ed. Removals, deaths, expulsions, backslidings, etc., 
were to be subtracted. After all the great revivals 
tliere w^as a decrease in numbers. * Yet there was an 
increase in circuits and stations, in preachers, and 
preachers' wives and children ; truly an increase of 
expenses almost everywhere, and a cry of hard times. 
Some sung, 'Shout, shout, were gaining ground;' 
but it was by going down. But all is not lost that is 

in danger. At one of our camp-meetings we had 

11) 



290 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

Brother J. B. Finley, the missionary, and two of the 
Indian chiefs, with us, and a number of our great and 
good men ; above all, the Master of assemblies was 
with us, the shout of a king was in the camp. A 
number of souls were blessed and powerfully con- 
verted. The number which joined on probation at 
each camp-meeting, or on each circuit, I have among 
my papers or memorandums, but have not time to 
look them up, and it would not be necessary to write 
them. All I have written is from memory, and I 
could write much more; but fear most of what I write 
will be of little real use or lasting benefit to many. 

" In Chester county I saw a very friendly Baptist 
preacher, who, in conversation with me about the 
experience of some persons, said they were not deep, 
sound, or Scriptural. I thought so too. He then 
told me a fact. A man wanted to join the Church, 
and got another man to write him an experience. 
When the time came for him to tell his experience 
he told the meeting that he was not in the habit of 
speaking, and was afraid of getting confused, so he 
liad his experience Avritten down, and he would read 
it to them. They approved of it, and gave him the 
right hand of fellowship. All was well till the man 
got sick; then he was afraid, and told some one to 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 291 

get that experience and read it. It was done, and 
the man got comfort, wliich lasted till he got sick 
again ; then he was much alarmed, and not ready 
to die. He thought of the experience, and told them 
to get it. They searched for it; but it had got 
among waste paper, and the mice had got it and 
destroyed it, so the poor man had to die miserable, 
without an experience. 'N'ow,' said the preacher, 
'you may tell that to the congregation.' I said I 
should be afraid it would be taken as a reflection on 
the Baptists.' He said: 'Tell them that a Baptist 
preacher told you the fact, and told you to publish it 
as a warning to others not to depend on an experi- 
ence that the mice can eat.' 

" The Presbyterians in this country had sacrament 
meetings, anxious meetings, and anxious seats. Some 
who have been at them say they carry on their meet- 
ings just like the Methodists. I asked in what 
respect? Why, they preach Methodist doctrine; 
then they invite anxious persons to come and sit 
down on the anxious seats ; then some one speaks 
to them ; then some sing ; then one stands up and 
prays, while the anxious persons sit on the anxious 
seats. So this is just like the Methodist plan as 
much as an ape is just like a man. I do not like 



292 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

nicknames ; everything should be called by its proper 
name. 

" I will relate a little conversation that took place 
in a friendly family. Several of them had been at 
one of our camp-meetings. Some time after, while 
talking about it, some one said they thought there 
were not many anxious persons at it. I asked, 
'Where did you sitf They said, 'Before the stand.' I 
told them they could not see well, being so low; but 
I sat on the stand, and could see all over the congre- 
gation, and saw many anxious persons. Many in 
time of preaching sat, and were anxious to under- 
stand what they heard. In time of exhortation there 
was a noise, and crying in the altar before the stand. 
Then some who had been walking about crowded 
forward, and stood on the seats ; these were very anx- 
ious to see a noise. Some were anxious to get their 
children to the mourners' bench to get them con- 
verted. Some were anxious to get their children 
away for fear the Methodists would pray w^ith them 
and get them converted. Upon the whole, every 
boat was occupied by some anxious person ; and 
every man, woman, and cliild at that meeting was 
anxious about something ; and even some dogs were 
anxious to get a bone or something to eat, for some 



LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 293 

got into tents and stole the people's provision. So 
all were anxious. I heard no more about anxious 
meetings or seats in that place. I am in favor of 
nfhourncTS^ benches. 

" In the year 1828 I was stationed in Philadel- 
phia. The station embraced St. George's, Ebene- 
zer, Salem, and Nazareth Churches. There were 
four of us : Brothers Doughty, Scott, Thompson, and 
myself. Brother S. Doughty had the charge, having 
been there the year before. He boarded near St. 
George's ; my boarding house was near Ebenezer. 
Brother Doughty died after harvest. Three of us 
had to do the work of four the most part of the year. 
The labor was hard ; preaching, classes to meet, and 
other meetings to attend, the sick to visit day and 
night. Some said I attended more funerals than 
any preacher in the city — almost at every one's 
beck and call ; but the Lord helped me, and I got 
along, with fear and trembling, better than I 
expected. Having charge after the death of 
Brother Doughty, knowing something about the 
station, and how critical and contrary some were, wo 
got along tolerably peaceable and quiet, had good 
meetings, and some success. In a quarterly confer- 
ence I unfortunately appealed from the decision of 



294: LIFE OF JACOB GPwUBEE. 

the presiding elder, a good little maD. He took it as 
a great offense, and remembered me at another time, 
in some other way. 

" In this year the great reform took place in Balti- 
more, which was ' the match to set fire to the train 
laid from Georgia to Maine to blow up the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church.' Word came to Philadelphia 
that many local preachers were expelled, and many 
private members had left the Chmxh, and that the 
Methodist Episcopal Church was ruined by tyrannical 
preachers, etc. Some came to me inquiring whether 
we had not better call an official meeting to express 
Dur views about the Baltimore excitement and doings, 
and guard our own rights. Some spoke and wrote 
much about 'mutual rights,' and were doing mutual 
wrong all the time. I told them we would mind our 
own business. I was acquainted in Baltimore with 
the head men among the reformers ; let them reform 
what they can ; but, said I, if we were to hear that a 
fire had broken out in Baltimore, should we ring the 
fire-bells in this city and get the fire companies out ? 
No, let us wait till the fire breaks out here, then ring 
the fire-bells and go to work to put out the fire, and 
take care and add no fuel. After a while a local 
preacher told me he would leave the Methodist Epis- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 295 

copal Church. I said, We are in a free country. 
After a while another local preacher went to the pre- 
siding elder and got a certificate, and went away 
from us ; and some of the members went too, but 
altogether not more than twenty while I was in the 
station. At a distance it was reported that a great 
many had left the Methodist Episcopal Church in the 
city, preachers and members. When some inquired 
of me how many preachers had gone from us, I told 
exactly. It was ' Crammer and Cropper, and then 
it was Dunn,' that is, altogether, three. I understood 
they did not harmonize together long, neither preach- 
ers nor members. The preachers wanted to be 
bishops or something else, and the members did not 
like to be Crammed, or Cropped, or Dunned, so 
their meeting-house was shut up, or sold, or — it is 
none of my business what. 

"I finished my work as well as I could in the 
charge ; but when conference came my presiding 
elder had not much to say for me. However, Dr. S., 
and some who were intimate with Bishop R., told me 
that wTong statements had been made to the bishops, 
and before they knew better they had committed 
themselves ; so my appointment came out for Glou- 
cester circuit in 1829. Some said it was the hardest 



296 LIFE 01'^ JACOB GIUIBEI^ 

circuit in die Jersey district, a lai'ge four weeks' cir- 
cuit ; but I had an excellent colleague, brother Green- 
bank, in his first year. We labored harmoniously 
and successfully together. ^Ye had a good work 
pretty generally through the circuit. We labored 
hard, but not in vain. We had a good reward in 
hand, in heart, and yet to come, when all is done. 

" One time, on my way to see my family, riding 
along the street through the city, one of iny left- 
handed friends spoke to me, and said, among other 
things, that I "svas riding a very fine horse. I 
answered, ' There is no knowing Avhat a poor fellow 
may come to. There has been a great change ; last 
year I was here in the city, had to walk every day, 
labor harder than a slave, was kicked away like a 
dog, and now I ride like a gentleman. Farewell.' 

"The reformers, as they were called, came along 
and took two of our men. One of them had told 
some he would go, and have a certificate too. When 
I got there, after preaching and meeting the class, he 
spoke out and said he wished to leave this Church. 
I inquired, ' Are 3'ou going to move away V Ho 
said, IS^o, he wanted to withdraw from the Church. I 
said, ' When you joined us you gave a reason for it ; 
you had a desire " to flee from the wrath to come." ' 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 297 

He said, ' Yes.' ' Xow,' said I, ' it would be fair to 
£:ive a reason for leavinsr us. Are vou dissatisfied 
with our doctrine?' He said, 'No.' 'Are jou dis- 
satisfied witli our Cliurcli government?' He said, 
'Yes, and had been for fifteen years.' I said, 'That 
will do ; not many would stay so long where they 
were dissatisfied.' Then I spoke to the class: 'You 
have heard his reason ; now all of you who have any 
objection to his withdrawing rise up.' Not one got 
up, though it was a large class. I said, ' You see 
they are all willing you should go; will you want a 
certificate?' He said, 'Yes.' 'Will it do in the 
morning?' 'Yes.' 'You shall have it.' In the 
morning I handed him a certificate in the following 
words : 

" 'This is to certify that the bearer, J. D., has been 
a dissatisfied member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and has withdrawn on the day of such a 
month, in the year 1829. J. G.' 

" He said lie had been dissatisfied with the govern- 
ment of the Church for fifteen years. It was said, 
when he gave in his certificate they told him it was 
not good ; but I could not help that ; it w^as true 
according to his own statement. The other man 



298 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

wanted license to exhort, but before I could bring 
his case before the class the reformers told him they 
would give him license to preach and a circuit— that 
our bishops and presiding elders got very large sala- 
ries, etc. So, when I called to see him he was a re- 
former. I asked him how much they had made him 
pay in a year to support the bishops, etc. He said 
they had not made him pay anything. I said, ' How 
much did you pay in last year?' He said he had 
only paid a quarter of a dollar. ' Why did you pay 
less last year than the year before last?' He said he 
did not, for he paid nothing tliat year. I asked, ' Why 
did you pay nothing?' He said the preacher had 
finer clothes than he had. . 'So,' said I, 'you paid one 
quarter of a dollar for the support of the Gospel and 
Church privileges for yourself and family in two 
years. That was not dear.' He went to the reform- 
ers' conference, but when he came back, and was 
asked where his circuit was, he said he might form 
one where he pleased. He never got one. 

"In 1830 my appointment was on Salem circuit. 
It included a tolerably large space of country, Salem 
and some other towns. Here I found my old friend, 
Father T. Ware, who gave me my first license to 
preach, and took my recommendation to the Phila- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 299 

delpliia Conference. Sister Ware's first liusband 
took me into society. Here I saw Fatlier B, Abbott's 
grave, wlio was one of tlie greatest preachers in his 
day ; most successful in getting souls converted and 
sanctified ; a m.an of great faith, deep humility, and 
of holy life. 

" When in Salem one evening the president of a 
temperance society requested me to go with him to a 
meeting. A young Baptist preacher read a piece 
very severe against rum-drinking, stating how it ru- 
ined families, men of talents, doctors, law^yers, and 
even ministers ; how it defiled courts, and even 
churches and pulpits. He read hard words, and 
when he was done the president said if any stranger 
had anything to say there was time. I took the hint, 
and as a stranger made a few remarks, stating that 
severe things were said against drinking, and it 
would be a kindness to point out a course to prevent 
thirst, and to give advice to such as were almost con- 
tinually under a salivation, Churclies were polluted 
by rum-drinkers, and so they wore by some who 
use a stimulus called tobacco. Look on the floor of 
a church on the men's side if you have a strong 
stomach ! See, see! spatteration, slaveration! fie, fie! 
Where did all that come from ? From the drainings 



300 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

of a dungliill ? Ko, no ; be decent, don't tell. Look 
in some pulpits and see self-denial, or can jou only 
hear it ? Well, faith comes by hearing ; but the best 
sermon a preacher can preach would have no relish 
to some if it was not seasoned with tobacco. As 
soon as the preacher takes his text some take a chew 
to brighten their ideas and spice what they hear. 
Why not allow another poor fellow to take out of his 
pocket a flask, and take a dram to brighten his ideas 
and stimulate his devotion? While I was dropping 
my hiiits there was a wonderful wiping^ not of the 
eyes but of the mouths. I was not invited to speak 
again in that place about either rum or tobacco. 

"We had a prosperous year in the classes, and 
revivals, a great and good camp-meeting, and many 
souls converted. Lord keep them ! They can only 
be kept by .the power of God through faith ; but they 
must keep the faith, or the power of God will not 
keep them. On this circuit I finished my work in 
the state of New Jersey. I highly esteem many of 
our members there, and some Jersey custouis; but one 
thing I am sorry for: some are cruel to their poor 
horses, drive them to the landing, stop at a store, not 
to get oats or corn for the poor hungry horse, but 
rum and good tobacco for the hard-hearted driver 



LIFE OF JACOB GllUDEH. 301 

and tippler. O what a pity ! So says an old friend 
to man and beast." 

While in attendance at conference in Philadelphia 
in 1830, he was appointed to preach in his old 
charge, St. George's. He took for his text Psalm 
Ixxxiv, 4: '' Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, 
they w^ill be still praising thee." Ketaining a keen 
sense of the manner in which he was treated by 
some of the members of that charge, which resulted 
in his removal at the end of the first year, he felt 
doubtless disposed to let his hearers know it by some 
witty and cutting allusions. The sermon delivered 
on that occasion is thus reported by the Kev. J. L. 
Lenhart : " It was well arranged, and the matter was 
in general very instructive. Under the head of 'The 
Character of those who dwell in the House of the 
Lord,' I distinctly recollect three characteristics : 

" 1. They are a humble people^ willing to occupy 
a humble place in the Church, indeed, any place, so 
tiiat they might be permitted to abide in the Church ; 
but there w^ere some people who were so proud and 
ambitious that, unless they could be like the first 
king of Israel, from the shoulders up higher than 
everybody else, they w^ouldn't come into the house 
at all, but hang about the doors. 



302 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

"2 Tliey were a contented people. If everything 
did not exactly suit them they made the best of it, 
and tried to get along as well as they could; but there 
are many who are so uneasy and fidgety that they 
can't dwell in the Church, but are continually running 
in and out, disturbing themselves and everybody else. 

" 3. They were a satisfied people^ always finding 
something good, and thankful for it. Let w4io would 
be their preacher or preachers, they could always 
get something that would give them instruction and 
encouragement. But there are some people who are 
never satisfied, but are always finding fault WMth 
their preacher ; some preach too loud, and some too 
long, and some say so many hard and queer things, 
and some are so prosy and dull that they can't be 
fed at all and are never satisfied. If the multitude 
that were fed by the Saviour were like these people 
they never would have been fed. If one had cried 
out, ' John, you shan't feed me, Peter shall ;' and an- 
other had said, 'Andrew shall feed me, but James 
shan't ;' and another, ' I want all bread and no fish ;' 
and others, ' I want all fish and no hread^ how could 
they have been fed? Such dissatisfied people can- 
not dwell in the house of the Lord. If they are not 
turned out they will soon die out : they can't live." 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 303 



CHAPTEK X. 

WayneFburgli Circuit — Dr. Sargent — Bishop M'Keudree — Removal to 
Balti nore — Opposition to Transfer — Port Deposit Circuit — William 
Hunter — Baltimore, Sharp-street and Asbury — Death of Mrs. Gru- 
ber — Colored People — Ebenezer, Washington City — A Hollander 
and a Priest — Questions — Title to Heaven — Extravagance in Wash- 
ington — Chaplain to Congress — Singular Sermon at a Camp-meet- 
ing — Carlisle Circuit — Opposition Lines — Feet Washing — Chris- 
tians — Miracle Workers — Camp-meeting on Huntingdon Circuit^ 
Amusing Discourse — The Crow's Nest stirred up — Card Playing — 
"A Particular and Confidential Friend" — Sharp-street and Asbury, 
Baltimore — "Old Wesley" — Colored Preachers — Spurious Reviv- 
als — Profession and Practice — Visit to Rachel Martin. 

" In the years 1831 and 1832 I traveled Waynesburgh 
circuit, which, like some others, was formed of parts 
of the Chester and Lancaster circuits. Some wanted 
a new circuit, in order that they might get more Sun- 
day preaching. They wished a married and a single, 
preacher, but instead thereof they got two married 
men, a burden on the circuit and a mortification to 
the preachers. We got along tolerably well, had 
good prosperous meetings, times of refreshing from 
the presence of the Lord, souls converted, and addi- 
tions to the Church. Each of us received a little 



o04 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

more than a single preacher's allowance. We had 
little work and little pay, just right and honest. 

'• jBefore my time was up on this circuit, Dr. Sar- 
gent, of Philadelphia, told me that I must move my 
wife to Maryland, to be near her friends, or she could 
not live, she was so afflicted. He was well acquaint- 
ed with her father's family, and felt a serious concern 
about her. I told him I did not like to ask for a 
transfer to the Baltimore Conference, and it would 
be a loss to me, as I had a comfortable home for her 
in Germantown. He said that was little compared 
with health and life. He said he would speak to 
Bishop M'Kendree, which he did, and the bishop 
made no objection. I disposed of my property, etc., 
at a considerable sacrifice, and took my wife to Bal- 
timore to her friends. The conference just com- 
menced, I stated my situation to the bishop ; not 
Mr. M'Kendree, however, as he was not present. I 
then went back to finish my work on the circuit, 
expecting a transfer, when the Philadelphia Confer- 
ence came on. But my case was brought into the 
Baltimore Conference, and a vote was taken on it to 
the effect that it was not expedient to transfer me. 
Some inquired whether I was efiective, etc. ; some 
had fears that I wanted aid, as they had got up a 



LIFE OF JACOB GPwUBER. 305 

preacher's aid society while I was gone. It would 
liave been kind if some one had said, 'We had fifteen 
years of his best time and strength as a single man 
in the Baltimore Conference ; if he needs assistance 
we ought to give it.' But a majority, some of whom 
had not been in full connection one year, voted 
against my being transferred. I had told the bishop 
and others that while I could do the work they gave 
me I wanted no more than my bare quarterage, and 
when I quit working I did not w^ant that; I wanted 
no benefit from conference or aid society ; and if I 
were to die m}^ wife would want nothing from confer- 
ence. But all would not do ; there was no transfer 
unless the conference voted it, which had never been 
required in this conference before, so I was treated 
differently from all or any one else. 

"When the Philadelphia Conference was over I 
got a letter from a presiding elder, stating that my 
appointment was on Port Deposit circuit. So they 
let me go to the border and look over. We had some 
revivals, seasons of mercy and power from on high, 
and some increase. In this year our old brother, 
William Hunter, died. He had been afflicted with 
the palsy for several years; he was an old acquaint- 
ance and friend ; he had been at ray father's. The 

20 



306 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

last time I saw liim as we parted he said to me, 'If 
you are in reach when I die I want you to preach 
my funerah' He told me he had calculated that Dr. 
Sargent should do that for him, but that he had gone 
to the western country, and I was the oldest friend 
he had liere. Our friendship and confidence has not 
been interrupted or broken for forty years. We 
parted in tears, to meet no more here on earth. 

" His death was rather sudden, and they did not 
know where to find me, so I could not fulfill his last 
request. Some of his friends wrote to me from Phila- 
delphia some time after his death to come and preach 
his funeral, but I could not do it. There were preach- 
ers in the city that could do it far better than I 
could. If I could have been at his burial I would 
have made an effort to preach, but could not have 
done justice to him. He was a great man, a good 
man, a patient man, sound in the faith. Some time 
after the first stroke, when I called to see him, he 
said : ' O how happy I was a few nights ago ! I thought 
I was going home to heaven ; there I shall see Abra- 
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, the prophets and apostles, 
Wesley and Fletcher.' He named some of our 
friends that had gone home. His heart got too full 
for utterance. He broke out in a shout : ' But above 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 307 

all, I shall see Jesus m}^ Saviour as he is, and be with 



[liin forever. 



'' Before my year was quite up the Baltimore Con- 
ference came on. Some of my friends spoke for me, 
and a transfer was promised. From the Philadelphia 
Conference I was sent to Baltimore, Sharp-street and 
Asbury charge. The stewards soon gave me to 
understand that they were not able to give me more 
than a single preacher's allowance, as they were in 
debt and had been pressed and drained the last year. 
I told them I did not fall out about money, so we had 
no difficulty. A good work went on ; we had great 
and good times, as they generally have among the 
colored people. But before a year was half out my 
wife died, and I was left solitary and alone. 

" Having charge of about two thousand colored 
people, who must have access to me by day and by 
night, having to visit the sick and attend to their 
business, and some meeting to attend every night ex- 
cept Saturday night, I did not see my way clear to 
break up housekeeping, so I kept bachelor's hall, as 
some call it. And for one year and about nine 
months I lodged alone in my house, had quiet times, 
plenty of work day and night. The Lord was with 
us. In the two years there w^ere near a thousand 



308 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

added to the Church. There were some trials, some 
difficult cases ; but we got through as well as could be 
expected. I found it easier tryiug to preach to the 
colored people than to the whites. It was not easy 
to get some to forgive one another, as God, for Christ's 
sake, had forgiven them, to bear with the weak, and 
not make one an ofJFender for a word. Some would 
have every difficulty brought to trial in the Church, 
make no distinction between offenses or crimes, im- 
prudent conduct, indulging sinful tempers or words. 
Some seemed to have a vindictive spirit, would seek 
revenge, and not be satisfied unless they had their 
own way. It is not easy to learn the lesson of self- 
denial completely and practice it daily. I thought 
I could do more good among the colored than the 
white people, though I frequently had to take up my 
cross. I might write of particular meetings and cases, 
pleasant and painful, happy conversions, and triumph- 
ant deaths. We did not speak of being hopefully 
converted ; we preferred the word powerfully sound- 
ly, or happily, to the word hopefully. Still we do not 
speak some words right. When we speak for God in 
his house w^e should speak as the oracle of God, not 
gentlemen and ladies; this may do at parties; 
but old men and old women, young men and 



i 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 309 

\oung women, boys and girls, is the Scriptural 
manner. 

''When my time was up in Baltimore, at the Con- 
ference in 1836 I was sent to Ebenezer, Washington 
city. Brother S. Ellis was my colleague. We had 
two meeting-houses, the white and the colored con- 
gregation ; we had good meetings, some increase, 
some good work, no very hard work ; Brother S. Ellis 
was a great, good man, plain, solid, and faithful ; we 
boarded together ; our host was a Hollander, who 
was intimate witli a priest who had him to do repairs 
for him frequently. One time a lock was out of 
order, and while the priest w^as saying mass some 
of his members drank his brandy. When he com- 
plained about it, our man asked him whether his 
members confessed all their sins to him ? He said, 
' O yes !' ' Then,' said he, ' you'll find out who drank 
your brandy;' but though our man asked the priest 
several times afterward who drank his brandy, he 
said he could not tell. The priest requested our man 
frequently to come to his church and get the true 
religion. I told him to ask the priest the following 
question : ' If I worship and serve the Lord while 
I live, and die a Methodist, can I go to heaven V 
To this question the priest gave an affirmative an- 



310 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

swer. ' That will do,' said oiir man ; ' why should I 
join your Church to go to purgatory, when I can 
go to heaven a Methodist.' 

'* Brother Ellis wrote to his friends in England, and 
among other things he said that we had different 
kinds of religion and sorts of people ; some were on 
their way to heaven with a clear title and a bright 
prospect, others were on their wa}^ to hell, with little 
doubt of getting there ; and others on their way to 
purgatory, very thankful for the privilege of going 
there. 

"This is an extravagant and dangerous place to live 
in ; a good man with a family, not very large, said 
he could not pay two dollars in advance for the Ad- 
vocate ; had not the money ; got only one thousand 
dollars a year ; if they did n^t raise his salary he did 
not know what to do ; he looked serious at me, and 
said : ' If you got my salary you would save money.' 
I said, ' Yes, sir, at least half Truly economy is 
not fashionable in Washington city. Some wanted 
me to beg money to build a house for Sunday school 
and class-meetings, I told them, as Congress 
would meet soon, they should propose mc for a chap- 
lain, and every dollar I got there the}' sliould have 
to build them a house. And they might promise 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 311 

that I would preach them the truth as plain and 
honest as any one would do it ; and what my ser- 
mons lacked in quality, should be made up in quan- 
tity. They never had such a generous offer before; 
but still they did not accept of my proposal, or bring 
me forward to honor and glory ; our people were 
afraid my time would be too much taken up with 
those great folks in the great house. But my fears 
were, that they would not want me there. I would 
have tried to make them think themselves not as 
great and as good as they ought to be ; they talk too 
much and too long, and say and do little ; get high 
wages, and set bad examples ; have horse-races, gam- 
ble, have dancing parties, employ and pay mounte- 
banks, play-actors, and dancing-masters. Have men 
of talents no better way to improve time and their 
minds? There might be an apology made for In- 
dians that have not learned better, and for slaves 
that want some pleasure and a holiday. Some go 
out and shoot at each other, professing to be men of 
honor. O fie ! fie ! 

While in Washington he attended a camp-meeting 
on old Frederic circuit, about twelve miles from the 
city. He took occasion, at a particular time when 
there was a large number of the clergy present, of 



312 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

showing up fashionable preachers and their modes of 
conduct in certain cases. He chose for his subject 
the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Ananias, who 
resided at Damascus, was made to represent the 
velvet-lipped modern preacher. He thus introduced 
the subject: "A great many years ago a bold blas- 
phemer was smitten by conviction when he was on 
his w^ay to Damascus to persecute the Christians. 
He was taken to Damascus in great distress. Ana- 
nias, after hearing of the concern of mind under 
wdiich Saul was laboring, started out to find him. It 
seems that he was stopping at the house of a gentle- 
man by the name of Judas, not Judas Iscariot, for 
that person had been dead several years. The resi- 
dence of this gentleman was in the street which was 
called Strait. I suppose it was the main street, or 
Broadway of the city, and hence it w^as not difficult 
to find. Arriving at the mansion he rang the bell, 
and soon a servant made her appearance. He 
addressed her thus : ' Is the gentleman of the house, 
Mr. Judas, within?' 'Yes, sir,' responded the serv- 
ant, ' he is at home.' Taking out a glazed, gilt-edged 
card, on which was printed, Kev. Mr. Ananias, he 
handed it to the servant and said : ' Take this card to 
him quickly.' Taking a seat, with his hat, cane, and 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 313 

gloves in Lis left hand, his right being employed in 
arranging his classical curls so as to present as much 
of an intellectual air as possible, he awaited an 
answer. Presently Mr. Judas makes his appearance, 
w^hereupon Mr. Ananias rises, and making a graceful 
bow, says : ' Have I the honor to address Mr. Judas, 
the gentleman of the house V ' That is my name, 
sir; please be seated.' 'I have called, Mr. Judas, to 
inquire if a gentleman by the name of Mr. Saul, a 
legate of the high priest at Jerusalem, is a guest at 
your house.' 'Yes, sir; Mr. Saul is in his chamber, 
in very great distress and trouble of mind. He was 
brought here yesterday, having fiillen from his horse 
a few miles from the city on the Jerusalem road.' 
'O I am very sorry to hear of so painful an accident. 
I hope he is not dangerously wounded.' 'JSTo, sir, I 
think not, tliough the fiill has affected his sight very 
much, and he complains considerable and prays a 
good deal.' ' Well, I am very sorry ; but that is not 
very strange, as I believe he belongs to that sect of 
the Jews called Pharisees, who make much of ]iray- 
ing. How long since he received this fall, Mr. 
Judas?' 'About three days since, and all the time 
he has not taken any refreshment or rest,' ' Indeed ! 
you don't say so ! he must be seriously hurt. May I 



314 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

be permitted to see Mr. Saul?' 'I will ascertain his 
pleasure, Mr. Ananias, and let you know if jou can 
have an interview.' After beincr gone a short time 
Mr. Judas returns, and says : ' Mr. Saul will be 
much pleased to see you.' When he is ushered 
into his presence Saul is reclining on his couch in 
a room partially darkened. Approaching him, Ana- 
nias says : ' How do you do, Mr. Saul ? I under- 
stood you had done our city the honor of a visit. 
Hope you had a pleasant journey. How did you 
leave all the friends at Jerusalem? How did you 
leave the high priest ? We have very fine weather, 
Mr. Saul. I thought I w^ould call and pay my 
respects to you, as I was anxious to have some con- 
versation with you on theological subjects. I am 
extremely sorry to hear of the accident that hap- 
pened to you in visiting our city, and hope you will 
soon recover from your indisposition.' " 

Gruber delivered this in his true German style, 
acting it all out, as he only could, and the whole 
thing was so ludicrous that it w^as impossible for the 
audience to repress their feelings, and some of the 
clergy laughed outriglit. 

" In 1837 my appointment was on Carlisle circuit. 
1 found it a small patch instead of a, field of labor, 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 315 

as it was formerly. But small as it was there were 
opposition lines running. Four camp-meetings: 
the United Brethren had one, the Kadicals had one, 
we had one, and a new sort of Baptists had one. 
this new sect are rigid Baptists, and practice dipping 
backward. In their view no other mode is right. 
In washing feet they were rigid Dunkers. I was at 
their camp-meeting part of a day and night. Their 
chief preacher spoke on the ev^ening of their feet- 
w^ashing. Among other things, he told his congrega- 
tion it was as much our duty to wash each other's 
feet as to take the sacrament; that they might as 
well neglect one as the other. I w^as a spectator, 
and they invited me into the stand. While looking 
at the strange work of washing feet in a large con- 
gregation, the preacher came to me and asked me 
what I thought of that? I told him I was at a loss 
to know what to say ; I had been at more than one 
hundred camp-meetings in forty years past, had seen 
hundreds who professed to be converted and took 
the sacrament, but never saw any wash feet in that 
way. He said it was a command. I said : ' You 
told your congregation so, but I did not believe it. 
If it was a command why did not the apostles do it ? 
there is no account of their ever doinoj it.' He said : 



816 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

' If tliey neglected their dntj that is no reason we 
should.' I asked whether he understood Christ bet- 
ter than the apostles did ? Not one of them said we 
must obey this command ; none that we read of 
ever directed or exhorted their converts to do it. 
Pie went down and had his feet washed, after taking 
off his boots and stockinets. I thoufi^ht it was not 
quite like old times, when they wore sandals or 
w^ent without shoes, and feet were dusty. I was a 
night and a part of two days at the United Brethren 
camp-meeting. A remark that a sharp-looking man 
made in my hearing in a company around a fire 
took my attention. They were saying what a fine 
thing it was for preachers and members of difi'erent 
Churches to preach, pray, and work together as at 
this meeting they are doing. This man said : ' O yes ! 
you are like persons fishing together, all harmony ; 
but when it comes to stringing up the fish, then we 
shall see how you agree together.' 

" I think the Albrights had a camp-meeting too, all 
in the bounds of the circuit. O what camp-meetings 
we had more than twenty years ago in this circuit! 
But now they are small, being so many, and the 
people divided, scarce the shadow of what they have 
been. What shall we do better than outpreach, out- 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 317 

pray, and outlive each other, till all finish their work 
and rest. Here are curious names and sects ; some 
call themselves Christians, and some the Church of 
God ; jou cannot speak of them as a Church, or of a 
person belonging to them, without taking the name 
of God in vain. This is very contracted. Some ask, 
Are there any of the Church of God among the 
Christians, or any Christians in the Church of God? 
Some say, No. ' The temple of the Lord, the temple 
of the Lord are we,' was said of old. But is wis- 
dom and religion to die with these ? 

"Two strange men came along, w^alking. As they 
passed they said they had been in New York, and 
were on their way home in the West. They held sev- 
eral meetings, called themselves ' Latter Day Saints.' 
In conversation, they intimated that they could 
work miracles ; but spoke very cautiously, now and 
then saying, ' Our meat is too strong for you !' If I 
had seen them I would have said, ' Yes, it is very 
strong, it is tainted ; go and bury it that it may not 
poison any person.' And as to the name they gave 
their sect, I w^ould have requested them not to come 
with their name and sect about here, for we have 
more names and sects now than is good; have pity 
on us ; bring us no more. But if you will have 



318 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

a name cliange two words ; instead of day, say night ; 
and instead of saints, say owls ; then they would not 
abuse the light, nor be a reproach to saints. I 
wonder if there are any 'Christians,' or any of the 
' Church of God,' among tliese self-styled saints. "Who 
can tell? Truly the days are dark and evil; iniquity 
is abounding, and infidels multiplying, and gaining 
sand and mire, not ground, or a rock, to stand on for 
a sure foundation. Lord, revive thy work ! " 

This year he attended a camp-meeting on Hunting- 
ton circuit, which he had traveled in former years. 
The people were delighted to see him, and his old 
friends gathered round him with many demonstra- 
tions of joy at his arrival. A Universalist preacher 
by the name of Crow, who had formerly been a 
zealous Methodist, and possessed considerable talents 
and aptitude for discussion, w^as on the ground, and 
was exerting a pernicious influence on the minds of 
the young people, whom he gathered together in dif- 
ferent places and harangued on the subject of uni- 
versal salvation. The Methodists and Presbyterians 
manifested a good deal of anxiety, and w^ere fearful 
of his making inroads upon their flocks. Before 
Gruber arrived ho had challenged a number of 
preachers to a public discussion, and had become 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 319 

quite boastful. Among other of his statements he 
had said tliat St. Paul was converted in the third 
heavens, and all who should happen not to be re- 
formed in this world would certainly be converted in 
the next. On Sabbath morning there was an im- 
mense congregation on the ground. Two very able 
discourses were preached by visiting ministers, both 
of whom leveled their artillery at Universalism. It 
was arranged that Gruber should preach at three 
o'clock, but at the conclusion of the last sermon he 
rose in the stand and stated that he would change the 
appointment to two o'clock, adding that he "ex- 
pected to have the largest and most respectable con- 
gregation that had been convened;:- — The young 
ladies and gentlemen who have been strolling about 
will be tired by that time and want to rest; the 
drunkards and gluttons will be dry and hungry, and 
will have gone for their fodder." When the trumpet 
sounded for preaching there w^as a general rush from 
all quarters for seats. After the preliminary exer- 
cises he took his text and launched off in his happiest 
style. All kinds of sin were exposed and denounced. 
After giving to saint and sinner their portion he 
made a pass at Universalism, and showed up some of 
its pecuHar features. Pausing, and looking unusually 



320 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

grave, he said: "I understand that a gentleman 
who is on the ground has made a wonderful discov- 
ery, and has been proclaiming an extraordinary doc- 
trine. I understand that he says St. Paul was con- 
verted in the third heavens, and that if a man can't 
be converted here in this life he can be converted 
there in the next. 'Novi any man who could con- 
ceive of such a thing must have been born in a 
crow's nest, and he must have been brought up in a 
crow's nest, as lie never could get any higher. He 
must have been fed on dry bones, without any meat on 
them or marrow in them. Lord, stir up this crow's 
nest ! Lord, the crow is a very ugly bird ; it is all 
black; make it white. It has a harsh croaking noise ; 
Lord, put a new song in its mouth, even praise to our 
God. Lord, give it wings, that it may fly away to 
the third heavens and get converted." 

Poor Crow was completely demolished, and very 
soon left the camp-ground, which gave great relief to 
members of the Church who had been so much 
annoyed by his teachings. 

" On my way to camp-meeting one night in the 
Packet," Gruber says, ^' two respectable looking men 
were playing cards for some time, very attentive to 
their spotted paper. As I walked past them I stopped 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 321 

and looked on a little. Tliey stopped playing. I 
said : ' Now vou know who can beat, or play best ; 
I wonder which of you can pray best ; I w^ould like 
to hear you at it.' After a pause, they inquired after 
Messrs. Bascom, Maffitt, and Durbin; these great 
preachers they admired very much; and they es- 
teemed great talents, and loved and played cards. 
What good had preaching done them ? One said his 
wife was a Methodist. 

" On Carlisle circuit we had a comfortable year, 
considering oppositions and trials ; w^e had some in- 
crease, though many had moved away. The moving 
spirit is a serious injury to many; some who are 
doing ^vell want to do better and live easier ; they 
give up a certainty for an uncertainty, lose their 
privileges, their zeal, and their love, and by the time 
they get to what was to be a paradise, they find it a 
purgatory. Some courageously move back to where 
they came from ; others are not able, or ashamed, so 
they write, and tell their friends all the good about 
their new home, to get them with them. Manj^ 
lose their religious enjoyment. "Why so? Because 
they desire or ' will be rich, and fall into temp- 
tation and a snare, and into many hurtful lusts, 
whioh drown men in perdition and destruction.' 



322 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

Troubled and careful about many things, they for- 
get and neglect the one thing needful ; barter the 
pearl of great price for toys ; a kingdom for dust 
and ashes ; their Saviour for money ; their birthright 
for a mess of pottage; their religion for rum, 
whisky, brandy, and gin. 

" I finished my work in Carlisle circuit in one year. 
In a small circuit a single man ought not to be two 
years ; he becomes a burden to some families, in 
some places gets the name of being lazy, or has to go 
fishing, hunting, etc. In concluding my year on the 
circuit, I did as I had done once before; I took one 
of my rest weeks and went and got married, but did 
not miss or lose one appointment. After being alone 
for more than three years and six months I thought 
it my privilege and duty to get a particular and con- 
fidential friend, a bosom friend, and a home to rest 
when work is done and traveling ended. Some 
appear to be very kind and friendly, but expect to 
be well paid for it. And some would be glad if their 
friends would die soon, to get their pay for friendship, 
and they would dress over head and ears in mourn- 
ing; such friends are not to be trusted much. 

"In 1838 I was agahi stationed in Baltimore, at 
Sharp-street and Asbury, having been away only 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 323 

two years ; there were reasons for it not necessary to 
state. I did not consider it a very great favor. I 
knew what was expected, and thought I could do 
more good there than in some other places. There 
was not a station in the conference that had more 
work, or required more attention. We got along 
in our usual course, had a good work ; but I could 
not finish it, so I had to stay another year. Then we 
repaired and enlarged ' Old Wesley Meeting-house,' 
and built a new meeting-house on Orchard -street, 
which made four houses for worship, and about one 
dozen and a half of colored preachers, besides exhort- 
ers and leaders, to carry on the good work. We had 
to conclude our meetings loj ten o'clock at night, so 
that all might keep good hours, according to law. 
We had some good revivals in all our congregations ; 
not like a revival some years ago, of which a good 
brother preacher said, 'Another such revival would 
ruin the Methodist Episcopal Church .in the city.' 
A number of gay and fashionable persons professed 
to get converted, and joined the Church with all 
their gayety and fripper}^ — lace, ruffles, curls, rings, 
lockets — hanging about them, like Jacob's flock, 
spotted, speckled, ring-streaked, and grizzled. How- 
ever, there was no religion in their appearance or 



324 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

dress ; it was in their souls, and could not be seen, 
no. I never found as large a number of members 
as plain as Sharp-street and Asbury Methodists. 
I preferred trying to preach to them above any other 
congregation in Baltimore. When we had the 
Orchard-street church built we found it necessary to 
have a school-house for Sunday-school and class-meet- 
ings. I engaged a man to build one, and found a 
friend to go half with me in paying for it. So I paid 
out about as much as I received that year, and they 
have the benefit. So let it be, and the Lord bless 
them abundantly. When they had an extra meeting 
and revival in the white congregations I went in as I 
passed coming from my meeting. Sometimes I saw 
many mourners at the altar, and the preacher would 
still invite more forward, telling them they would 
labor with them and pray for them till the Lord 
would bless them. Tlien sing, 

'Come, thou traveler unknown,' 
* * * * * 

' With thee all night I mean to stay, 

And wrestle till the break of day.' 

But soon look at the watch and say it is time to con- 
clude ; it is near ten o'clock. There was no law 
requiring white people to be so exact. I pitied 



LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 325 

mourners sent away soon after they came. I whis- 
pered to the preacher to sing, 

' With thee till ten I mean to stay, 
And sing until I go away.' 

He said that was not in the book. I said it was in 
the practice. Let them know we are in earnest, and 
mean what we say and sing." 

During the session of the conference, which was 
held in Baltimore, a brother minister, who had known 
Hachel Martin before her marriage, and had fre- 
quently enjoyed the hospitalities of her house in 
Lewistown, thought it right and proper to pay her a 
visit, and took the earliest opportunity for doing so. 
He called at the house where they were staying, and 
inquired for Mr. Gruber. Soon Mr. Gruber made 
his appearance at the door, and the ministerial 
brother addressed him in the old familiar way : " Good 
morning, Brother Gruber ; how do you do, sir ; I 
hope you are very well ; I understand you have been 
getting married again, Brother Gruber." 

" Well," said Gruber, bluntly, " what is that of 
your business ?" 

" l^othing ; only I thought I would call and con- 
gratulate you on so happy an event." 



326 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

"I don't want to be congratulated, sir." 

" I had the pleasure of knowing your lady, and of 
frequently stopping at her house when I traveled the 
Lewistown circuit." I 

" I haven't got any lady." 

" Well, I should like to pay my respects to Mrs. J 

Gruber." ' 

" She is respectable enough." 

"But may I not be permitted to see her?" 

" I don't keep her for a show," 



LIFE OF JACOB GliUBEK. 327 



CHAPTER XL 

Lewisto-wn — Kemoval — Kachel Martin's House — Gniber outdone — An 
Irish Family — Wesley's Bed — An Episcopal Parson — Undeserved 
Compliment — A liberal Circuit — A new Thing under the Moon — 
Mifain Circuit— "A better Day coming "— Animal Excitement — 
Church Building — Methodist Preachers' Salaries — A Bargain pro- 
posed — Meaning of the Word all — Trough Creek Circuit — A bad 
State of Things — Eeformers — Camp-meetings — A Slip — Tobacco 
Chewing and Feet Washing — The " holy Kiss" — A Church sold. 

"We shall continue the personal narrative: "At 
the conference in 1840 I was sent to Lewistown 
circuit. I moved from Baltimore to Lewistown, 
on the Juniata River, the county town of Mifflin 
county. Here my wife had a house left her by her 
first husband during her life; in this she has lived 
since, while I have traveled different circuits. Some 
have asked me, Where do you live ? I answer, In Ra- 
chel Martin's house. This is correct, for when she dies 
the family of Mr. Martin's brother are to have the 
house. Lewistown circuit was an easy four weeks' 
circuit ; little or no room for enlarging ; burdened 
with meeting-house debts, etc. We dragged heavily, 
worked hard, had some success at camp -meeting 



328 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

and other meetings ; revivals in difierent places the 
first year. In the second year on this circuit we had 
a greater work, considerable additions to the Church. 
We built a new meeting-house, and had money 
enough subscribed at the dedication to pay, and have 
it clear and all complete." 

While he was living in " Rachel Martin's house," 
as he called it, he was much annoyed by the boys in 
the town, who enjoyed themselves in the winter 
sport of sliding down a hill near the house on their 
sleds. Having no children himself, he did not wish 
to be disturbed by other people's. After bearing the 
noise as long as his nerves and patience would al- 
low, he sallied forth to stop them. He remonstrated 
with them, and urged them to desist ; but the urchins 
with their sleds were too much attached to their sport 
to yield w^hat they regarded as their right for " any 
slight or transient cause." After respecting him 
enough to listen to his entreaty and demands, one of 
the Young Americas drew np his sled for a facilis 
decensus of the hill. Gruber determined to stop him, 
and for this purpose planted himself firmly on the 
sled. The young rogues seeing this, and taking a 
hint from their leader, simultaneously made a push 
for the parson, and before he had time to dismount 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 329 

away went the sled down the slippery track with a 
momentum that could not be arrested. Away went 
G ruber, and, John Gilpin like, away went his hat, 
amid the shouts of the boys. Never had he a swifter 
nor yet a safer passage in the dow^n-hill of life, and 
when he reached the bottom and returned for the 
covering of his caput, he was a wiser if not a better 
man. ISTot a word did he say to the boys, but delib- 
erately walked home. For once in his life his wit 
and judgment both failed him ; he was completely 
outdone. 

Gruber at one time visited a family in Pennsylva- 
nia who were from Ireland. They were staunch 
Methodists of the old school, and husband and wife 
both prided themselves on being acquainted wuth 
Wesley and his coadjutors. Their house was a com- 
fortable and quiet home for the itinerants of those 
days. This good mother in Israel was a subscriber 
to Dr. Clarke's Commentary, which was at that time 
being published in parts. Every number that came 
she read with the most wonderful interest. In this 
respect she was in advance of some of the preachers, 
and being shrewd and intelligent she frequently 
puzzled them with questions in theology. Gruber 
found not only rest but enjoyment in this preachers' 



330 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

home. The first morning after lodging in the house 
he was approached by the good woman, who said : 
*' E"ow5 Brother Gruber, you can say what you never 
could before." 

" What is that?" he replied. 

" Why," said she, *' you slept last night in the bed 
that Mr. Wesley slept in." 

"How is that?" said Gruber. 

"Why, the last time he was in Ireland he lodged 
with us in that very bed, and I have always kept it 
for the preachers to sleep in." 

She told him about a Church parson in this coun- 
try who had been one of Mr. Wesley's preachers in 
Ireland, but who, in consequence of yielding to a 
besetment, was expelled from the connection. After 
coming to this country he entered the Episcopal 
Church. Being in that neighborhood, he called at 
this house and was kindly entertained. On leaving 
he was requested to call again whenever he came 
that way, as he would be made perfectly welcome 
on the consideration that he had once been one of 
Wesley's preachers. The good lady remarked that 
David respected Saul because he was the Lord's 
anointed, and she would respect him because he was 
once a preacher in the Wesleyan connection, but 



I 

LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 331 

not because he was a parson and became frisky 
sometimes. ISTot regarding this as a very great com- 
pliment, he left rather hastily, and it is not known 
that he ever called again. 

Of this year's labors Gruber says : " Upon the 
whole we had a considerable increase, and the circuit 
was in a good condition; but for several years after it 
suffered much through neglect in visiting members 
and families by preachers and leaders, dropping some 
appointments, and opening a door for an opposition 
to run up to us and over us. In one place a meet- 
ing-house was built against us, where, if our preach- 
ers and members had attended to their duty, there 
would have been rTo success against us. So we lost 
what we had in possession — first claim, by survey and 
improvement ; must we lose our labor and members ? 

" In this circuit was a hard case, A good brother, 
though weak and complaining, not able to do his 
work, labored hard to get his claim or demand, and 
begged more than a hundred and thirty dollars one 
year for the Missionary Society, and got credit for hav- 
ing done better than any other in the district. But 
a secret was not told ; he left the rent of the house in 
which he lived the whole year unpaid, above seventy 
dollars; the stewards had to pay it after he was gone. 



332 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK, 

The circuit stood high for liberality; had two mar- 
ried preacliers sent on it together. The missionary 
money has been some less ever since. 

A word about claims. We spoke and read about 
allowance formerly; then the preacher's work and duty 
was stated in the Discipline ; now, whether there is 
work for a preacher on a circuit half his time, or if he 
does but half his duty, still we hear about his claims ; 
his salary must be made up. This is rather a new 
thing under the moon. After some preachers have 
planned and cut up a circuit, without consulting stew- 
ards or quarterly conference, made a four weeks' cir- 
cuit out of ten or twelve appointments, then comes 
the complaint ; the circuit don't pay their preachers, 
and the preachers seldom meet a class. Little work, 
little pay. Some ask, What shall we do ? Why get 
work and do it, or rest. Let such as are not able or 
willing, old or young, to fill ten or twelve appoint- 
ments in four weeks, and meet the classes, be super 
numerary or locate ; then there will be room foi 
young men, able and willing to work. 

'' In 1842 I was sent to Mifflin circuit, a small two 
weeks' circuit. Some said it was hard, and they had 
had many disappointments in time past. I found no 
difficulty in filling all the appointments in eight or 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 333 

nine days. "We labored, prayed, and looked for good 
days and prosperity, and some sung : 

' There's a better day a coming.' 

We were not disappointed. The Lord began to 
revive his work among the members generally around 
the circuit. 

" In 1843 I was sent back to finish my work ; got a 
few new places to preach at, and a considerable revi- 
val in several places. We had a good work at our 
camp-meeting, a powerful work at two quarterly 
meetings, and at some other meetings. Some count- 
ed about twenty converts at each ; we had a large 
increase for a small circuit. Some promising young 
men were among the converts. We had a great 
meeting in the court-house, crowded full, and 
the bar filled with mourners ; a new thing here. 
There was a great excitement; some were disturbed 
by the noise ; some preachers called it an animal ex- 
citement. Some time before there was a great show 
of wild and tame animals in the town, and large 
crowds of people, from town and country, went to 
see them, and paid for the sight. I took the liberty 
to tell my congregation (after there was such an 
opposition to our noisy meeting) that the animal 



384 ' LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

excitement was not in our meeting, but at the show, 
where men, women, and children, preachers and 
hearers, all flocked together to see monkeys and 
apes,* and other animals; there was a great animal 
excitement that cost much more, and was much less 
profit to the people, than our meeting, except to the 
showman and tavern-keepers. 

"We built a meeting-house, and had it nearly clear 
of debt; it was dedicated to the Lord, and the Lord 
answered prayer and blessed souls in it. He filled it 
with glory and we gave him glory. 

"In my last week on the circuit I appointed a board 
of trustees for another meeting-house, and promised 
to give as much as any one among them would give 
in money, which they remembered and sent and got 
it. This year I got a little more than single preach- 
er's allowance. A certain preacher told his congre- 
gation the Methodist preachers got more or higher 
salaries than they got in their Church. I saw him 
and asked him how he found out what we got; he said, 
' In the Discipline.' I said : ' That tells the allowance ; 
but if only half is given us we can sue no one for 
more or demand it as a debt. I will make a bargain 
with you; the stewards shall give you every dollar I 
get in these two years for what you get in one year.' 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 335 

He said I did not know how little he got. I said I 
never inquired how much he got, for it was none of 
my business, but I would risk it. He said he only 
got about three hundred and sixty or seventy dollars 
that year. I said, 'I get about two hundred and 
twenty or thirty for the two years. IsTow make your 
speculation.' 

" Another preacher told me Christ did not die for 
all. All did not mean all, as in the decree that went 
out that ' all the world should be taxed.' I said that 
decree went forth from Cesar, so the Lord did not 
decree everything. But did Christ only die for all 
the Roman empire? Ko, he died for every man. 
I told him a priest could help him to another proof 
that all did not mean all ; for when Christ said, 
'Drink ye all of this,' the priest says that does not 
mean all, only the priest. Sometimes it means all, 
that is, ye priests, drink ye all, namely, drink all the 
wine. 

"In 1844 I was appointed to Trough Creek circuit, 
which had been a four weeks' circuit, with two 
preachers on it. I could fill all the appointments in 
two weeks, but had to have three Sundays, so I filled 
all the appointments, and as many more as I could 
get, in two weeks and one da}^ Then I had time to 



336 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

be with my family three days in three weeks. There 
had been disappointments, class-meetings neglected, 
our members discouraged. Our preachers had got a 
name of being lazy, and afraid of bad weather and 
the work, etc. Other preachers came along, very 
zealous, professing to preach the same doctrine. Our 
people wanted more meetings, went to hear and help, 
and were silly enough to think it w^as all one. So, 
through neglect and carelessness, we lost the ground 
we had long cultivated. Confusion and discord came 
into classes, families, and congregations, some pull- 
ing down what others built up, forming new 
churches. Still it was to be all one, all united. 
Some made an improvement on our class-meetings 
and love-feasts by keeping open doors, and not being 
contracted or bigoted, but still called them by our 
names. Others made an improvement on our gov- 
ernment in the Church. The bishops were danger- 
ous, tyrannical monsters, with large, strong horns and 
long tails, ilfraid of being horned or switched, they 
went and made for themselves a president, gov- 
ernors, etc. As republicans they may need sheriffs 
and constables to support the government. Others 
came and found a set of unbaptized heathens, who 
had only been sprinkled; they raised a dust and fished 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 337 

in muddy water; would have persons burled in a 
liquid ^i*ave. Others want even sncli to be ducked 
forward three times to get right and lit for their 
table or communion. Alas for Babel! 

"In the midst of this variety, anxiet}^, and con- 
fusion we had good meetings, some conversions, and 
a very good camp- meeting. A number professed to 
find peace and salvation. What a pity that the 
enemy still sows tares among the wheat, and discord 
among brethren, xin old man who had been a 
Methodist some years made a slip, got out, and under 
the water. His faith was only as large as a grain 
of tobacco seed. He was a great chewer of the 
weed ; believed greatly in washing feet and saluting, 
and*had been ducked three times. He asked me, 
'How do you get over the command, "Salute one 
another with a holy kiss ?" ' I told him, ' Some of our 
members do kiss each other. But how can persons 
salute with a holy kiss who are not holy, and do not 
believe in the doctrine of holiness? And how can a 
person give a clean kiss with a plug of tobacco in his 
mouth V 

"In my first round on the circuit I was told that 
one of our best meeting-houses was to be sold by 
the sheriff the next week, and they could not save it. 



338 LITE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

I told our members they must buy it in, we could 
not do without it. They bought it, and when the 
sheriff's deed had to be made I advanced tlie money. 
Some subscribed to raise money, and gave me orders 
on a storekeeper; he gave me his note, and next I 
heard he failed. But we have the meeting-house 
safe and secure. I got about as much quarterage on 
the circuit as I paid for their meeting-house. I 
missed no appointment, finished my work on Trough 
Creek circuit in one year, and left many kind friends 
behind, wlio pity me, and, I hope, pray for me. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 339 



CHAPTEK XII. 

WaiTior's Mark Circuit — Witches — An Ugly old Woman — Consist- 
ency — A Witch tried — Shirleysburgh Circuit — A Friendly Family 
— Education of Daughters in Catholic Seminary — Anxiety of the 
Mother — Eeflections — Personal Interview — Admission — Purgatory 
— Location^— Heaven — ^Priestcraft — Short Way witli the Catholics — 
Conversation with a Priest — "Old Mother Church" — The True 
Church — St. Peter a sorry Foundation — Invincible Ignorance — A 
Mass Meeting — High Mass — Low Mass — The Original Languages — 
Horse and Mass in Latin. 

In 1845 he was stationed on Warrior's Mark cir- 
cuit. In his journal he relates the following stoiy 
about witches : 

" At one of my appointments in a private house 
the man and his wife were very kind to me. They 
let me know that they had heen much troubled with 
witches. Sometimes saw strange things flying in the 
air, lost some of their cattle, and some of their cows 
gave bloody milk. There was an ugly old woman 
in the neighborhood who, they thought, was a witch. 
They had to go a distance to a witch doctor, who 
took pity on them, and did not let them come often; 
but let them know what the means and ingredients 
were, and where and how tq. get them, that they 



340 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

might master the witch. Thej told me, as I was a 
young man, I might get troubled, so they kindly in- 
formed me how to conquer the witches. I have never 
been troubled by them, but I am very sorry that many 
persons are bewitched; that we have to say as St. 
Paul wrote to the Galatians: 'Who hath bewitched 
you that ye should not obey the truth?' Among the 
works of the flesh is witchcraft, and I fear priestcraft 
is worse. I do not think that all the witches in our 
country could blindfold, humbug, and make as many 
and as great fools as the priests do. The ignorance, 
superstition, profaneness, and intemperance of many 
of their adherents is alarming. True, they eat no 
meat on Friday, but fish flesh. But many will get 
drunk on the holy Sabbath ; go to the tavern rather 
than a house of worship, unless it is a mass-house or 
a confession box. 

"I heard of a squire who had to summon an old 
woman to answer for the disturbance she caused the 
neighborhood. It was said she was a witch. The 
complaints against her were various and serious. 
Some had seen her come out of the top of a chimney 
and fly in the air; others said she had rode their 
horses, at least they saw her stirrups in the horses' 
manes; others had seen her ride a broomstick, etc. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 341 

The sqnire, after hearing their complaints and testi- 
mony, told them he would always be ready to give 
them law and justice; but at that time he could not 
do anything for them. There was no law against 
anything they brought against the old woman ; any 
of them might do what they said the old woman had 
done — go out of the top of a chimney, fly in the air, 
or ride a broomstick if they could, and there was no 
law to punish them for it. So he dismissed them. 
They went away disappointed, but a little wiser in 
this free and happy country, where even old and 
homely women, though said to be witches, are 
allowed to live without being weighed, drowned, or 
hung. To come to the knowledge of the truth, and 
obey the truth, is the most eflectual way to guard 
against the works of the flesh, the works of darkness, 
ghosts, and goblins. Walking after the Spirit, walk- 
ing in the light, is the safe and certain way to heaven 
and endless light." 

The year following he was sent to Shirleysburgh 
circuit, and met with his usual success in preach- 
ing the Gospel. The following incident, as re- 
lated by him, occurred while he was traveling this 
circuit : 

" I was in a village, and lodged at the house of a 



342 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

friendly man whose wife had died the year before. 
She was a member of our Church, and a very pions 
woman. He informed me that he was not a member 
of any Church, but had been raised in the Eoman 
Catholic faith. Since he became a man, however, 
he had changed his views somewhat, and did not go 
to confession, or conform to any of the rites and cere- 
monies of that Church. He had sent two daughters 
to a Roman Catholic school to be educated. The 
priests succeeded in getting them into the Church, 
and when they came home their mother found that 
they were full of a bigoted, contracted spirit, regard- 
ing her as a heretic. The evils of a false education 
had entirely overcome all her religious instruction and 
counsel, and they had become thoroughly perverted. 
All the mother could do was to pray for them, which 
she continued to do till the hour of her death. I 
waked up in the night, and could not sleep for several 
hours. My thoughts and reflections were of an 
exceedingly solemn nature. I thought of the father 
and his responsibilities, of the mother in heaven, and 
the children in the meshes of superstition and idol- 
atry. In the morning I took some time to speak to 
them, to the family and friends that were present. 
I began with one of the daughters, who was the most 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 343 

rigid in her attachment to the priests and the Church. 
I inquired if her mother liad not been a strict Meth- 
odist, and asked her if she had not confidence in her 
sincerity and reh'gion ? She said, 'Yes.' I said, 'Do 
you believe your mother went to heaven when she 
died V She said, 'Yes.' I said, 'While I lay awake last 
night I thought of your mother going to heaven out 
of this house, and my mother gone to heaven out 
of her house. Tliey both lived and died Methodists, 
and I have no doubt are now happy in heaven to- 
gether. E'ow, if you had taken your mother's ad- 
vice, sought the Lord, and joined the Methodists, 
you might go to her even without going to piirgatorj^ 
I have not heard any of your Church say they ex- 
pect to go to heaven when they die, but they expect 
to go to purgatory. Please to tell me where that 
is.' She said she could .not tell ; but some camo 
to her help and said I could not tell where heaven 
is. I said, ' Yes, I can ; it is where God is. on his 
throne of glory ; and I can tell you where hell is. 
It is where the devil and his angels are ; and there 
is where the wicked will have to be forever. And 
now I will tell you where I think purgatory is.' 
* Where is it V ' In the pope's brains.' They said, 
' No, it is not there.' ' Then tell me where it is ?' 



344 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

They did not tell, they cannot telh O pity ! awfnl 
delusion ! priestcraft truly." 

Gruber had a short way with the Catholics, 
especially with the " holy fathers " of that denom- 
ination. "While preaching a sermon on the subject, 
of justification near Hagerstown, he took occasion to 
refer to the Koman Catholic doctrine on that subject, 
and endeavored to show that it was contrary to the 
teachings of Christ and his apostles. Any exposition 
of Roman Catholic doctrine is construed by the 
Church into persecution, and in this respect they con- 
sider themselves the most persecuted people in the 
world. A short time after the sermon in question 
he was met by the priest of that parish, who ad- 
dressed him as follows : 

''I hear, Mr. Gruber, that you have been saying 
hard things against your mother. I am very sorry 
to hear it indeed." 

" Abuse my mother! not I, never. She was too 
good a woman and too kind to her son to be abused 
or slandered by him." 

"O no," said the priest, "I don't mean your 
mother: it is your old mother." 

" M}^ old mother! Do you rpean my grand- 
mother?" 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. '^4^) 

"Is'o, no! I mean the Old Mother Cluirch," 

"Oho! that is it. Old Mother Church! Well 
she deserv^es that name, for she is very old indeed ; 
so old that she is blind and toothless, and so crippled 
that she hobbles about on a crutch. Poor old 
mother ! how I pity her." 

While traveling Lewistown circuit in the latter 
part of his ministry he had an interview with a 
priest w^iich he relates as follows : 

" I had several friendly conversations with a priest 
in a county town. We exchanged books. He said 
he would read mine if I would read his. After 
some time we met. • I inquired if he had read my 
book, Ouseley's ' Old Christianity against Papal 
iSTovelties.' He said he had seen some of it before. 
He then asked me how I liked his book. I said I 
had read something like it before. It was too con- 
tracted and bigoted. I thought they had got more 
liberal than to say there was no salvation out of the 
pale of their Church. He said there was but one 
Church, which Christ established through St. Peter 
at Pome. I told him they were mistaken about the 
foundation and the place. After the resurrection 
and ascension of Christ the Christian Church com- 
menced at Jerusalem. The number of the names of 



346 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

the disciples was about one hundred and twenty, and 
on the day of Pentecost there were added about 
three thousand, so there were three thousand one 
hundred and twenty at Jerusalem before we have 
an account of any at Rome. And the disciples were 
first called Christians at Antioch. And there is no 
proof that St. Peter ever was at Rome, and he was no 
more infallible than his wife. He denied his Master, 
and cursed and swore that he did not know him. 
What a rock to build a Church on ! And after he was 
restored to his discipleship and apostleship, St. Paul 
on one occasion withstood him to tlie face because 
he was to be blamed. His views were not so con- 
tracted. He said, ' In every nation he that feareth 
God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him.' 
How different from the pope and the priests ! I 
asked the priest if he thought there was a possibility 
of my getting to heaven without joining his Church ? 
He said I might get there on the score of ignorance ; 
but it must be invincible ignorance, and he did not 
think I could plead that. I had lived long enough 
to learn and know better. I told him my case was 
very serious ; there was no prospect of my ever 
getting into his Church, and he would not even 
allow me to go to purgatory 5 so nothing but a 



LITE OF JACOB GRUBER. 34T 

heretic's hell remained for me. He said he pitied 
me ; but I think if the Lord did not pity me more 
than he did, it would be worse with me than it has 
ever been or ever will be. 

" I did not see the priest again for some time, 
not till after the election. He was zealous to get 
his members to vote according to his politics, or 
else they need not look for his blessing, and it 
would be a dreadful thing to get a little Irish- 
man's curse in Pennsylvania. When I met him, I 
told him I had not seen him since our last conversa- 
tion, except one day at the post-office just before the 
election ; then there was a crowd of men in the 
street. I inquired what was to be done, or why so 
many people. I was told there was to be a great 
mass meeting. I told the priest I thought he could 
tell me what a mass was, for I heard he had one in a 
shantee at the railroad some time ago. 'Now I 
want information. I read nothing about mass in the 
Scripture of truth, but in newspapers. Some years 
ago your bishop died in Baltimore. Some time after 
his burial, notice was given in the papers that higli 
mass should be performed or said on a certain day 
in the catliedral for the repose of the bishop's soul. 
Now please to tell me the difference between a 



348 LIFE OF JACOB G RUBER. 

great mass, a high mass, or a low one. I suppose 
jovv mass in the shantee was a low or small one.' 
The priest told me it v^s owing to my ignorance. I 
did not understand the original language ; could not 
tell the name of a horse in Latin. I told him I 
acknowledged my ignorance, and asked for informa- 
tion. Wished to know whether horse and mass were 
near alike in Latin. He said a set of ignorant feiiows 
were riding about with their saddle-bags, pretending 
to instruct the people, and they had no learning. I 
told him he did not ride with saddle-bags for he rode 
in a carriage, xind we poor ignorant fellows some- 
times met a learned man, and we might ask for in- 
formation, as I was then doing ; and those wise and 
learned men ought to pity us and to give us a little 
instruction, that we may know the difference 
between a horse and a mass. However, we have 
the privilege of asking wisdom of Him who giveth 
liberally and upbraideth none. The priest was cross 
and short; he said he had to write, and go on his 
journey. I told him not to lose any time on my 
account; I only wanted a little information, and 
very seldom had such an opportunity to get it. He 
turned liis back to go away, calling me an impostor. 
I spoke after him: 'You don't know what they say 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 349 

about yon. Many would not be in your shoes for 
all the boots in the country.' So ended the last 
interview between us. 

''In traveling among the mountains, namely, 
Broad Top, Eound Top, Ray's Hill, and Sideling- 
Hill, I found four or five different sorts or denomina- 
tions of traveling or circuit preachers, all professing 
to preach Methodist doctrines. Some tried to make 
some improvements on them, but they were the 
worse for being mended. Truly the poor have the 
Gospel preached to them, for many are poor, both 
preachers and people. How so many are support- 
ed as preachers I cannot see or tell; it must be a 
burden to the people and a mortification to the 
preachers. I felt clear, as I had surveyed and had 
possession of this country on my first circuit more 
than forty years ago. Others have come and formed 
circuits, and run their opposition lines up to us and 
over us wherever they could. 



350 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 



CHAPTEK XIII. 

Bints to young Preachers — Treatment of — A Union Meeting-house — 
Prayer for a young Preacher— Clerical Vanity — Bombast — Eolation 
of an Incident — Preaching at Conference — A smart young Preaclier 
— Improving the Style — "Going to Heaven by way of the Moon to 
see the Angels " — A Wonderful Man. 

The following " hints to young preachers ^' we found 
among the papers which came into our hands, and 
as we do not recollect of ever having seen them in 
print, we think they are of sufficient importance to 
give to the reader : 

" 1. Let your eye be single ; seek nothing but God; 
let your schemes, plans, and views begin and end 
in him. 

" 2. Make not this man or that man your model ; 
be yourself, and aim and reach toward the true 
model of all excellence, that is, Christ Jesus. 

"3. Avoid, as much as may be consistent with 
your duty, all conversation and unnecessary inter- 
course with the young, gay, volatile, and vain. 

" 4. Fly from idleness, lounging, gossiping, etc. ; 
your Bible and other valuable books, prayer and 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 351 

meditation, and your duty as a preacher, will leave 
no time to run to waste. "Weeds, briers, and tliorns 
take possession of uncultivated fields. 

" 5. Remember, it is a great mercy that although 
you may be greatly useful in the Church and in- 
strumental in doing much good, yet all this is hid 
from your eyes, or at least you see no more than 
barely sufiices as an encouragement to proceed in 
your work. It is a mercy, because if you saw much 
fruit it might prove a temptation of a most danger- 
ous kind. Again, if you saw none you would doubt 
your call, be discouraged, and your spirit sink. 
Therefore it is good for us to aim high, strive to 
convert the world, and put out all our strength to 
pull down the pillars of Dagon's temple. Yet be 
contented ; indeed, rather pray to God that you may 
see but little in this world, but much in the day of 
eternity. 

"6. Do not forget a Methodist traveling preacher 
has every year, in every new circuit, a character to 
establish. The eyes of all are upon him.. Do not 
say, nay, do not even think, I don't care what people 
say of me. This is not the language of humility. 
They will indeed, it may be, think and say too much 
evil of you ; but certainly you must be careful to give 



352 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

them no cause. Kemember, they that have great 
objects in view can sacrifice little tilings. Abraham 
could give up his son, and Jepthah his daughter ; 
you are therefore to give up all little things. Your 
dress, your food, your company, your very looks and 
whole deportment must all say to all men, I am 
crucified with Christ. Therefore, for a man who has 
thus solemnly devoted himself to God to make a fuss 
about his food, be nice and particular in his dress, to 
show a fondness for a fine horse and gaudy trappings 
about his horse, furniture, etc., to sleep and doze 
away his mornings and evenings when in health, or 
to be surly, tart, crusty, and hasty in his conversa- 
tion, all show a little, vain mind, and want of grace 
or want of understanding, or both. 

" 7. Feed your horse, clean your boots, (you may 
have this do*ne by others in some families ; when and 
where, you may easily see,) help tlie family make the 
fire, be courteous, humble, condescending; let love 
sparkle in your eyes, expand your heart, give agility 
to your feet, tune and oil the organs of your speech, 
and let all your words and w^orks show that your 
heart and conversation are in heaven. 

"8. Call no man master, yet reverence, respect, 
and greatly venerate men of holy lives, especially 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 353 

the old prophets of the Lord ; yet no nian'ri i2)se dixit 
is to be 3^our creed. Think for yourself; speak 
modestl}^ ; yet sometimes you must do this firmly in 
matters of great moment ; and a man may maintain 
a firm, unshaken mind, when at the same time his 
words and manners may be all meekness, humility, 
and condescension ; and this, in fact, is the very 
spirit and temper of a Methodist preacher if he has 
the spirit of his station." 

Though he was sometimes severe in his criticisms 
on young preachers, he always entertained for them 
a fatherly affection, and sought only to correct their 
errors. At a certain place he preached in a house 
which was occupied part of the day by ministers of 
another denomination. The parties had an under- 
standing that they were not to preach on any dis- 
puted points of doctrine, or to interfere with each 
other's sentiments or usages. One morning a young 
preacher held forth, and, forgetful or regardless of 
the mutual agreement, made an onslaught on Method- 
ism, and was very bitter in his denunciations as well 
as false in his representations. His sermon was. a 
caricature of Methodist doctrines and usages. Gruber 
was present and heard him, and was invited at the 

close of the sermon to offer the concluding prayer. 

23 



354 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEE. 

He accepted the invitation, and addressed the throne 
of grace in liis usual manner, praying for the people 
and the various objects of Christian effort, as well as 
for a blessing upon the various Christian Churches in 
the land. As was customary he also prayed for the 
minister, saying: " O Lord, bless the young preacher 
who has discoursed to us this morning, and grant in 
mercy to make his heart as soft as his head, and then 
he will do some good." 

He especially, as we have seen in the preceding 
pages, detested clerical pride and vanity, and was 
particularly severe on young preachers whom he 
thought indulged in either. At a camp-meeting held 
on Chester circuit, which* was attended by a large 
number of ministers, a young and talented preacher, 
somewhat bombastic in his styl6, delivered two ser- 
mons, which were received with considerable enthu- 
siasm. Gruber thought he was a little too much in- 
flated both in his style and feelings, and concluded 
to lessen his dimensions. He took for the occasion a 
time wlien there were a number of ministers in the 
preachers' tent, and among them the young divine. 
He remarked that he would give them an incident 
which occurred at a camp-meeting near Baltimore. 
"A young minister was there and preached, and no 



LIFE OF JACOB GllUBEK. 355 

one said anything about the sermon, either criticising, 
commending, or condemning. So the young man 
went into the preacher's tent and introduced the 
matter by saying: 'Brethren, I never preached from 
that text before, and never heard it preached from, 
and I do not know what you think of my arrange- 
ment?' Then that shrewd old man, who was a dis- 
cerner of spirits. Rev. Joshua Wells, replied : ' If you 
had said nothing about it I should not; but since 
you inquire, Til give you my opinion ; it is this : it 
was like a mess of tadpoles, all heads and no tails.' 
Thus the young preacher stood reproved in the pres- 
ence of his brethren; and anxious to have something 
said about his discourse, something was said exceed- 
ingly mortifying to ministerial pride." 

As soon as he had related this, and the young man 
was making the application, a local preacher well 
acquainted with Gruber said to him : "Father Gruber, 
how came you to be so much like the young man 
YOU have described in your preaching yesterday ?" 
Gruber, not at all disconcerted, replied : " Why, I 
knew the people here did not like flesh nor fish, so I 
thought I would give them a mess of tadpoles." He 
had the day before taken a strong stand against de- 
pending on the " internal light," on which the Quak- 



356 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

ers lay so much sti'ess. His text was : '' Take heed, 
therefore, that the light which is in thee be not 
darkness." 

A young preacher, desirous of improving his style 
as a pulpit orator, and having great confidence in 
Father Gruber, who, we believe, at the time was his 
presiding elder, wrote to him for advice. The young 
man had contracted the habit of prolonging his 
words, especially w^hen under the influence of great 
excitement. Deeming this the most important defect 
in his elocution, Gruber sent him the following 
laconic reply : 

" Dear Ah ! Brother Ah ! — When-ah you-ah go-ah 
to-ah preach-ah, take-ah care-ah you-ah don't-ah 
say-ah Ah-ah ! Yours-ah, 

Jacob- AH Grubek-ah." 

A young preacher who traveled the same circuit 
with him being desirous of following his colleague's 
example in the way of getting married, would, on 
finishing his round, turn his course in the direction 
of a certain locality where some interesting young 
ladies lived. Oji one of these visits he unexpect- 
edly met his colleague, who expressed great surprise 
at the direction he was taking. " Why " said Gru- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 357 

ber, " how is this? you are on the back track. Where 
on earth can you be going?" 

" Going ! why I am going to heaven by way of 
the moon to see the angels." 

" That is wonderful. Will you be back in time to 
commence your next round ?" 

*' O certainly! never fear; I'll be on hand at the 
appointed time." 

" Yery well ; don't let the angels detain you from 
your work." 

Glad to be rid of so querulous a customer, he rode 
on with a light heart. His destination was a place 
called " Sky Yalley," to reach which he had to pass 
through "Moon Yalley," and the angels were the 
young ladies. 

At the ensuing conference, during the examination 
of the young preacher's character, in which many 
good things were said of him by his presiding elder, 
reference was made to his colleague. The bishop 
asked Brother Gruber what he had to say in favor 
of his colleague. Rising slowly from his seat he said, 
in a quizzical manner, " Brother B. is a wonderful 
man," and then sat down. Not understanding this 
remark, some of the preachers asked for an explana- 
tion. Rising again, he replied, "I simply said. 



358 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

bishop, that Brother B. was a wonderful man," 
and again resumed his seat. The matter now as- 
sumed a somewhat serious aspect, and the presiding 
elder, regarding it as a fling at the character of his 
preacher, demanded an explanation, " Yery well," 
said Gruber ; " if I must explain I will say that a 
man w^ho can travel a circuit, go to the sky by way 
of the moon to see the angels, and then come back 
again, must be a wonderful man." 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEK. 359 



ClIAPTEK XIY. 

Personal Eecollections — Peculiar Characteristics — Uncompromising — 
Education — Gruber's Style as a Preacher — The Door of Heaven 
shut and the Key lost — Dietetic Scruples — Theological Attainments 
— Deep Piety — Cider and Beer — Augmentura ad Mulierera — Fall- 
ing from Grace — Fire in the Head — Preaching to the Fishes — The 
Borrowed Shirt — Indian Squaws — Misquotations — Odd Reproof. 

"W"e have been kindly furnished the following recol- 
lections of Gruber by the Kev. Dr. Holdich, Corres- 
ponding Secretary of the American Bible Society : 

I knew Jacob Gruber well. He was preacher in 
charge in 1820 on the Dauphin circuit, in which I lived 
at the time of my conversion and my union with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He, without asking 
my consent and without my knowledge, gave me my 
first license to exhort. I saw a good deal of him 
during these two years, and was frequently in his 
company afterward. 

He was a remarkable man, and one not to be 
judged by common standards. Like many others 
of his day, he seemed raised up for a special purpose, 
and to that purpose he was peculiarly adapted. He 
w^as not fasliioned after tlie pattern of any other char- 



860 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

acter. A Pennsylvania German, he had the peculiar 
characteristics of that people, which clung to him 
with wondrous tenacity. He was candid to abrupt- 
ness, firm even to obstinacy, conscientious to a scru- 
ple, and faithful in reproof almost if not quite to dis- 
courtesy. In these things he carried virtue to excess, 
and his "good" was sometimes "evil spoken of." 
But on the other hand he was a man of great faith, 
of a devout spirit, of diligent, fervent, constant 
prayer, and of untiring labor in his Master's w^ork. 

He was a man not given to comj)romise. He 
was particularly fearful of conformity to the world, 
and dreaded anything like worldly compliances. It 
may be that his notion of conformity to the world 
was not on a very broad scale ; but then it was after 
the standard of the day, a standard that we are per- 
haps too much departing from. Possibly the people 
of that day attached too much importance to small 
things and too little to larger. We are in danger, 
not indeed of attaching too much weight to the 
greater duties of Christianity, but too little to the less. 
It would have shocked Jacob Gruber beyond expres- 
sion to have seen our modern churches filled with 
professing Christians quite undistinguishable in man- 
ners and costume from the fashionable world. And 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 361 

he never would have endured our modern ecclesias- 
tical music. Passing a house of worship in which he 
heard the organ, affecting simplicity, he said 'What 
is dat?' 'It is the organ,' said his companion. 
"And what is de organ for ?" " O they are worship- 
ing God in singing." " O ! and do they have a 
machine to say their prayers too?" He was gifted 
with a keenly sarcastic wit, which, however, he 
never used but to rebuke what he believed to be sin. 
Sometimes he employed it with terrible effect, which 
made him anything but popular with the object of it. 
Though he had a fair English education he could 
not be called a man of liberal culture, and he never 
overcame either the prejudices or the Germanized 
pronunciation of his early life. He carried the 
German intonation very perceptibly on his tongue, as 
perceived in the instances above given. But though 
he was not a man of general and enlarged reading, 
yet he had read considerably in theology, especially 
in Wesleyan literature, and in such books as supply 
useful thoughts for the pulpit. He was much at 
home in doctrinal as well as practical and experi- 
mental theology, and dwelling exclusively in this 
sphere of thought, his preaching was instructive and 
useful to the masses in no common degree. I often 



362 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBEE. 

heard able ministers say that few persons put so 
much theology in their sermons as Jacob Gruber. 
Then he was a man of much thought. He did not 
merely reproduce the thoughts of others. What he 
learned from others was so mingled up with the pro- 
duct of his own mind that it seemed to come from 
its native mint. He studied his sermons thoroughly, 
but he studied them mostly on his knees, and the 
thoughts and emotions that he had when in com- 
merce with his God were the burning thoughts that 
he brought out before the people. Hence we do not 
wonder that he kindled a similar fire in many a soul 
that heard him. I have seen him, when preparing to 
preach at a camp-meeting, on his knees behind the cur- 
tain in a tent, pouring out his heart in prayer, and seek- 
ing a baptism of the Spirit before going to the pulpit. 
On such occasions, at camp-meetings I mean, he 
was generally very powerful, sometimes overwhelm- 
ing. Even those who did not like him were compelled 
to acknov/ledge the wisdom and power with which he 
spoke. He would make the heart of the wicked 
tremble and quail before him by his delineations of 
the sinner's character, and his terrific descriptions of 
his doom. Sometimes the spirit of 'sarcastic wit 
broke out in his sermons, and not unfrequently in a 



LIFE OF JACOB GRtJBER. 363 

way not a little stinging. Preaching on one occa- 
sion when it was the fashion for ladies to lace very 
tightly, he fell upon the corsets, and, somewhat 
tritely in this case, compared the fashionable ladies 
to '' wasps cut in two in the middle." In the same 
sermon, warning believers of the danger of apostasy, 
he fell upon the doctrine of the final perseverance of 
the saints, urging them not to rely on their conver- 
sion, however clear and satisfactory, to give them an 
assm-ance of heaven, but to aim at a daily growth. 
He suddenly exclaimed : " Some people believe if 
you are once converted you are just as safe as if you 
was already in heaven and de door shut, and de key 
lost !" His public addresses were full of odd and 
crank sayings which, hovrever they might almost 
provoke a smile, had very often much point and 
force in them. 

He was very particular in his diet, and seemed 
conscientiously so. His food was substantial, and 
he liked what was good ; but he liked it simple and 
natural. Perhaps ho was not sufficiently carefnl to 
avoid giving trouble in families in the matter of 
his eating, which is of no small importance in an 
itinerant and missionary putting up in so many dif- 
ferent families, and often where the entertainment of 



364 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEE. 

the minister, tliongh conscientiously and even joyfully 
clone, is sometimes with no little inconvenience. It 
was often a trouble and perplexity to the excellent 
Marthas that Brother Gruber was so hard to please. 
Yet not so hard either, if they would have let him 
alone. One day the following conversation took 
place at a breakfast table : 

" Brother Gruber, will you take some coffee ?" 

" I drinks no coffee." 

"Will you take tea?" 

" I drinks no tea." 

"But, Brother Gruber, does not the Bible say, 
*Eat what is set before you, asking no questions for 
conscience' sake?' " 

" Yes, it does ; but it doesn't say. Drink what's set 
before you; and, anyhow, I does not like spoilt water; 
I likes de water as God made it." 

He had no objection, however, to a little cider or 
beer, for the temperance reformation had not com- 
menced then ; but he never, I believe, drank ardent 
spirits, at a time when almost everybody used them, 
at least occasionally. 

Jacob Gruber was quick and acute in mind rather 
than deep or comprehensive, and he dealt more 
in statement and exposition than in argumentation. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 365 

He was very apt to be right, but it was rather 
by intuitive perception than by logical deduction. 
This gave hiui an advantage ovei an opponent, 
whom he often foiled if he did not convince. I 
remember him one day in an argument with a 
Presbyterian lady on the doctrine of Christian per- 
fection. After meeting her objections, and failing to 
obtain her assent to his views, he turned upon 
her with the argumentum ad kominem, or ad muU- 
erem in this case. 

" But I know some Presbyterians that hold a 
higher degree of perfection than we Methodists 
believe in." 

" Do you, indeed ? I never knew any such. I do 
not know how it can be." 

'' O yes, they certainly do ; for they believe Chris- 
tians may be so perfect that they never can fall." 

Now this might not be a fair and conclusive argu- 
ment, but it was somewhat of a poser. 

I have mentioned his firmness in reproof, accom- 
panied sometimes by abruptness in manner. This 
was particularly observable in those things to which 
he had a special aversion. He had a great abhor- 
rence of tobacco, and he waged incessant war against 
the cigar and the snuff-box. On one occasion, com- 



366 LIFE OF JACOB aRUBER. 

ing up to a young gentleman who was smoking lus- 
tily, Gruber shouted in a loud voice: "Fire! fire!" 
"Where?" said the young man. "I guess it is in 
your head," catching hold of his cigar and throwing 
it away, " because I see de smoke coming out." 

He could not bear to see a minister, as he thous-ht. 
triflingly employed. He thought that every servant 
of Christ should give all his faculties to his work, 
and make his tastes and pleasures yield to his duties • 
or, in other words, that his duties should be his pleas- 
ures. On one occasion he called to see a young 
preacher, and was told that he had gone down to the 
river to amuse himself with fishing for a little while. 
" Fishing !" said Jacob. " Has he gone to preach to 
de fish? I didn't know dat he had a commission to 
preach to de fishes." The young man, who was not 
given to such things, was not a little mortified when 
he heard of it, and said : " Jacob shall not catch me 
napping again." I believe he never did. 

In that day it was often very difiicult to control a 
certain class of persons at a camp-meeting. It was 
particularly so in certain parts of Pennsylvania, 
where the ruder class not unfrequently gave no little 
annoyance by their violation of the rules of decorum. 
On such occasions Jacob Gruber's ready and biting 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 367 

wit often served a good purpose, and frequently suc- 
ceeded in securing an end when all other means 
failed. A young gentleman once told me that a 
friend of his went to a certain camp-meeting, and it 
so chanced that he borrowed a shirt for the occasion, 
which shirt had a very liberal supply of ruffle. Like 
several others, contrary to the rules of the meeting, 
he mounted one of the seats to overlook the congre- 
gation. Some of the ministers from the stand re- 
quested him very politely to descend. But he paid 
no attention. After seeing their failure Mr. Gruber 
took him in hand. In quite a distinct and loud voice 
he cried : " O brethren, let the young man alone ; let 
him enjoy himself. Don't you see he wants to show 
his fine ruffled shirt; and after all I dare say it's 
borrowed." The young man instantly jumped down 
and made off, saying, \fith an oath, to a friend, " How 
did he know I had a borrowed shirt on ?" 

I never knew him fail in his attempts of this sort, 
though sometimes he had to make repeated efforts. 
At a meeting in a certain place some young women 
gave great trouble by their persistence in the prac- 
tice which was very offensive. It was not only an 
offense against neatness to stand on the seats, but 
unpleasant to have persons gazing about on the con- 



368 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. 

gregation, and making remarks on the exercises. 
Several attempts had been made to get them down ; 
but they were obstinate in their resistance. Every- 
thing else failing, Gruber undertook them : 

" Will dose young ladies please to get off de 
penches?" There was no compliance. "Young wo- 
men, will you get off de penches ? You make dem 
too dirty to sit on." It was to no purpose. After a 
pause: "I say, gals, will you get down dere? I say 
you spoil de penches." They did not move. " You ne- 
groes, do you hear me ? I say, get down." But they 
stood still. It was a desperate case. One more effort. 
" I say, you Indian squaws, will you get down from de 
penches ?" Instantly they dropped, when Gruber ex- 
claimed : "Ah, see how well dey knows dare names." 

"We do not hold these things up for imitation. 
They are of questionable propriety. But we must 
remember that Gruber was a peculiar man, endowed 
with singular powers, and he felt at libert}^ to use 
them to rebuke sin and impropriety and secure atten- 
tion to the rules of good behavior. We should be far 
from saying to any other, "Go thou and do likewise." 

To reprove Jacob Gruber or to criticise his doings 
was rather perilous. On one occasion, on rising in 
the pulpit to give out his text, he found the leaf of 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUJ3EK. 369 

the Bible containing tlie cliapter torn out. He 
therefore quoted from memory, and quoted it incor- 
rectly : '* Beloved, now are we the children of God," 
etc. 1 Jolm iii, 2. A young preacher, not lacking 
in self-esteem and confidence, said, loud enough to be 
heard : *' ' Sons,' Brother Gruber ; ' Now are we the 
sons of God.' " Instantly he replied : '^ Yes, I know 
that very well, but I didn't want to leave the sisErs 
outy The conoTco^ation was delio-hted, and the 
young minister somewhat crestfallen. 

But one of the oddest reproofs I ever knew him to 
administer was on a larger scale, and proved not less 
eflTectual. In a certain church the cons-reo'ation had 
an unseemly practice of turning their backs on the 
pulpit during a certain portion of the singing. One 
Sabbath Mr. Gruber conducted the service, and, as 
usual, the whole congregation simultaneously turned 
round, presenting their backs to the preacher. In- 
stantly tlie preacher, to be even with them, turned 
round also, presenting his back to the congregation. 
When the time for prayer came, at the close of the 
hymn, the congregation were astonished to find the 
preacher turned from them and gazing at the wall. 
The hint was enough ; they did not repeat the objec- 
tionable practice. 

ii4 



370 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Tribute to the Memory of Gruber — Last Eound — Last Sermon — Dr. 
Bond — Kiglit to a Jubilee — Letter to tlie Conference — Unintermitted 
Labor of Fifty Years — Work done — Great Sufferings — Attachment 
no the Sanctuary — Last Sabbath in the Church — Discourse — Eelig- 
ious Enjoyment — Adjustment of Temporal Affairs — Bequests to 
Chartered Fund, Missionary Society, etc. — Kev. S. V. Blake — Clos- 
ing Scene — Last Sabbath on Earth, first Sabbath in Heaven — Por- 
traiture of his Character — In Memoriam. 

In an exceedingly appropriate and interesting tribnte 
to the memory of Gruber, from the pen of the Rev. 
T. H. W. Monroe, we learn that he was unable to 
attend the conference of March, 1850, by reason of 
affliction. He had finished his work on the Lewis- 
town circuit and started with his wife for Baltimore, 
hoping to reach the conference, which sat in Alexan- 
dria, Ya, Passing through Carlisle he stopped over 
Sabbath, and preached in the evening what proved 
to be his last sermon. He Avas attacked with a 
violent inflammation of his right foot, which pained 
him very much, and increased in violence till he 
reached Baltimore As soon as he arrived he sent 
for Dr. Thomas E. Bond, Jr., who found him suffer- 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEK. SYl 

ing much from a gangrenous foot. The doctor 
informed him that it would prove fatal, and advised 
him to desist from his journey and hasten home. 
"When informed by the doctor of the nature of his 
affliction, he said in a cheerful manner: "Well, I 
have been preaching for fifty years, and have as 
much right to a jubilee as any Jew." He went 
liome accordingly, and addressed a letter to the Eev. 
S. Y. Blake, in which he took an affectionate leave 
of the conference, and asked that a superannuated 
relation might be given him. The conference com- 
plied with his request, and directed the secretary to 
address him a letter expressive of their affection and 
sympathy. During the whole of his half century of 
itinerant labor there was not an intermission' of four 
consecutive weeks for any cause whatever. He 
spent thirty-two years on circuits, seven in stations, 
and eleven as presiding elder on different districts ; 
but his work was done, and his end rapidly 
approaching. 

The best medical advice within reach was imme- 
diately procured, and all was done that skill, medi- 
cine, and attention could do to arrest the progress of 
his terrible disease, but in vain. Though his vigor- 
ous constitution, the skill of his physicians, and the 



372 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEE. 

constant attentions of his wife and friends did much, 
to delay the crisis and lengthen out his days, yet, 
after his sufferings had been protracted for nearly 
three months, disease gained the mastery, his strength 
gave way, and he sunk to rally no more. Unaccus- 
tomed to affliction for more than threescore years, it 
was a most painful trial to him to be confined to a 
couch and tortured in body. He often said it was a 
new, strange, and mysterious lesson he had to learn. 
At first, with painful days and restless nights, his 
patience and fortitude were taxed to their utmost 
capacity. It was difficult for him to reconcile his 
present suffering with his past long life of labor, 
activity, and health. But as grace was needed it 
was kindly bestowed ; and sweetly was he mellowed 
down into true Christian resignation. I^ow he began 
to perceive that having finished his work, and through 
a long life having, to the best of his ability, done the 
will of God, all that remained was to suffer his will. 
His affliction had a most happy influence upon his 
heart and feelings; they became so tender, humble, 
simple, pure, and holy, as to indicate clearly that his 
heavenly Father was just finishing the work pre- 
paratory to his reception to glory. He punctually 
attended to his religious duties and devotions during 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEPw. 873 

the whole period of his confinement nntil within two 
days of his death, and, being generally able to kneel, 
officiated in tnrn with his w^ife at fiimily w^orship. 
So fixed were his habits of devotion, so great his love 
for the privileges of the sanctuary, and the public as 
well as private means of grace, that he would not 
consent to remain at home on the Sabbath, but was 
carried to the church by his brother in a chair or on 
a bench, that he might liear the word of God and be 
comforted if he could no longer preach it himself. 
This he continued to do up to the Sabbath before his 
death. The last Sabbath he spent on earth he was 
in the house of the Lord morning and evening, and 
listened to a discourse delivered by the preacher of 
the station from a text whicli he himself had selected, 
namely, 1 Pet. v, 10, 11 : " But the God of all grace, 
who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ 
Jesus, after that ye have sufifered a while, make 
you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him 
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 
This day lie seemed to enjoy himself more than usual 
during the public worship, having less pain to dis- 
tress him. It was very gratifying to see how God 
was graciously answering prayer in his behalf, and 
was gradually softening the violence of his disease, 



374 LIFE OF JACOB GUUBER. 

and kindly and gently smoothing his pillow as the 
eventful moment approached. 

]^ot allowing himself to indulge any certain hope 
that his disease could be removed, he hastened to 
adjust his temporal affairs. In the disposition of his 
property by will, the aged and worn-out preachers, 
the widows and orphans of those who have died in 
the work, and the missionary cause, are beneficiaries. 
A real and genuine friend to all that was good, he 
showed himself true to the last. 

He bequeathed to the Chartered Fund fourteen 
hundred dollars ; to Dickinson College, scholarships 
to the amount of five hundred dollars ; to the pay- 
ment of a mortgage on the church in Lewistown, 
five hundred dollars ; to the Missionary Society, on 
the death of his w^ife, two thousand five hundred dol- 
lars, and an additional six hundred and twenty 
dollars in bank stock of the Carlisle Bank. 

Mr. Martin thus describes the closing scene : He 
was taken suddenlv worse on the evenino- of the 

t/ o 

twenty-third of May, having several attacks of Mint- 
ing or swooning, and no doubt the worlc of death 
began at that time, as he gradually grew weaker and 
weaker, until forty-eight hours afterward the scene 
closed. It was matter of reg-ret to me that mv 



LIFE OF JACOB GIIUBKK. 375 

appointments required me to leave on tlie morning 
of the twenty-fourth, and I was thereby deprived of 
tlie privilege of being with him in his last hours. 
His attentive neighbor, Rev. S. Y. Blake, however, 
had the mournful satisfaction of ministering to him 
even to the last, and his unw^earied devotion to the 
bedside of the venerable man is worthy of all com- 
mendation. From him I have learned the particu- 
lars connected with the closing scene. Brother Gru- 
ber was perfectly conscious that his end was rapidly 
approaching, and sighed for the happy release. He 
requested Brother Blake, if it could be ascertained 
when he was about to die, to collect a few brethren 
and sisters around him, that they might (to use his 
own w^ords) " See me safe off ; and as I am going all 
join in full chorus and sing: 

" ' On Jordan's stormy banks I stand.* " 

A few hours before he died he asked Brother 
Blake whether he could stand it another night, and 
was answ^ered that in his judgment he could not. 
" Then " said he " to-morrow I shall spend my first 
Sabbath in heaven ! Last Sabbath in the Church on 
earth, next Sabbath in the Church above !" and with 
evident emotion ad(^ec| ; 



376 LIFE OF JACOB GEUBER. 

"Where congregations ne'er break up, 
And Sabbaths never end.'' 

Brother Blake, perceiving that he was fast sinking, 
and could only survive a few moments, asked him if 
lie felt that he was even then on the banks of Jordan ; 
to which he replied, with great effort, and tliese 
were his last w^ords, " I feel I am." He was exhort- 
ed to trust in Jesus, and not to be afraid, but to look 
out for the light of heaven, his happy home ; and 
then, in accordance with his request, the hymn he 
had selected was sung ; but ere it was concluded his 
consciousness w^as gone. The singing ceased, a 
deathlike stillness reigned, only broken by his occa- 
sional respiration, and an overwhelming sense of the 
presence of God melted every heart. A minute 
more and his happy spirit w^inged its way to its 
long sought rest, in the seventy-second year of 
his age. 

So calmly, so peacefully did he fall asleep in the 
arms of Jesus. O it w^as a privilege to be there. 
To see so aged a servant of God linish his course 
with such confidence, such composure, such firm- 
ness, such blessed hope of glory beaming from his 
countenance, was a privilege indeed, the grandeur 
of which we will not attempt to describe. 



LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 377 

Tlie following portraiture of his character is from 
the same pen : 

He shared tlie sympatliy of the whole community 
during his affliction, and marked respect was paid 
to him and his family at tlie interment. Brother 
Blake conducted the funeral services, and delivered 
a discourse in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
founded on Matt, xxv, 21, to a large concourse of all 
denominations and citizens in general, after which 
his body was committed to the earth, to sleep there 
till the resurrection morning. Subsequently the asso- 
ciation of preachers for' Huntingdon district passed 
resolutions expressive of their high regard for his 
character, and similar proceedings were had in the 
preachers' meeting at Baltimore City, in the conven- 
tion of stewards for this district, and in the Quarterly 
Conference of Lewistown and Mifflin circuits. 

Brother Gruber was, in many respects, an extra- 
ordinar}^ man. In his character there was a rare 
combination of traits. Some of the harsher and more 
unpleasant of these were frequently most prominent, 
and to the superficial observer they were made the 
standard by which his whole character was judged. 
By such a rule, however, great injustice has been 
done him, for in this wav should no man's character 



378 ' LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

be measured. All the different traits should be 
taken together, all the features sliould be viewed at 
the same time, and a just and righteous balance 
struck, or the decision will be partial, the judgment 
inaccurate, and the portrait will fail to be an exact 
resemblance of the original. 

There existed in him a very unusual combina- 
tion of severity and lenity. Faults in professors of 
religion he never spared, but felt himself bound, 
as a faithful watchman, to reprove ; and this he 
did, sometimes with withering sarcasm, and always 
with great severity and sharpness. Apparently lie 
seemed to select such opportunities and such lan- 
guage as would make the deepest impression and 
inflict the greatest torture. But under this apparent 
harshness (which is attributable, in a great measure, 
to the rigid disciphne under which he received his 
early training) there was an inexhaustible vein of 
lenity and kindly feelings. Though he always used 
a sharp instrument in probing the wound, and did 
not always use it with a steady and tender hand, 
yet so soon as the true signs of contrition, conva- 
lescence, and amendment were discovered, he had 
always a healing balsam to apply. And if some 
might suppose that his harshness and severity were 



r.IFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 379 

excessive, others, having an equal opportunity of 
judging, miglit decide that his lenity and kindness 
were equally excessive. In all cases, however, 
whether of severity or lenity, it cannot be doubted 
that his motives were always pure. 

Tn him rigid economy and great liherality were 
strangely blended. This was another of his peculiar- 
ities ; but the combination was often overlooked, 
from the fact that while his economy was always 
visible and notorious, his liberality was generally 
silent, modest, and unostentatious. He never al- 
lowed himself to indulge in luxury, nor gave any 
countenance to superfluity. He permitted nothing 
to be wasted, no needless expense to be incurred, 
and saved everything that could be turned to good 
account. In dress, in diet, in the transaction of busi- 
ness, in the management of his circuit or station, the 
same rules governed him. His rigid adherence 
thereto has, in the estimation of some, fixed upon 
him the reputation of being parsimonious. But they 
did not know him. His benefactions may be said 
to have been munificent, for he gave away to needy 
individuals, toward the erection of churches, and 
to literary institutions; and by his last will he be- 
queathed, for the benefit of worn-out traveling 



380 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBEPw. 

preachers, widows, and orphans, and nltiraatelj to 
the missionary cause, sums making in the aggregate 
a larger amount than is often contributed by men of 
his means. The excellence of his course, as he 
himself has often remarked, is seen in this : the 
great objects which he kept steadily in view by the 
rigid economy of his life v/ere, first, to set a good 
example before his brethren and the younger preach- 
ers, who, he feared, were becoming too extravagant 
and prodigal ; and, secondly, that thereby he might 
be able to give the more to all benevolent objects. 
Thus his economy became the means of his liber- 
ality, and fully acquits him from the charge of par- 
si moniousness. If he carried his economy to an ex- 
treme, as some supposed, (which, however, is very 
doubtful,) yet the fault was not only fully covered, 
but overbalanced, by the good use he made of it. 
If any benevolent enterprise was started by the 
Church in the place of his residence or its vicinity, 
the first application was generally made to Brother 
and Sister Gruber, that they might head the list, and 
by their liberality stimulate others. And this they 
but seldom failed to do, and never when the neces- 
sity and propriety of the measure were beyond 
doubt. 



LIFE OV JACOB GKUBEK. 381 

He was a man of untiring energy and industry. 
His zeal was kindled, liis principles monlded, and 
liis habits formed in the school of early Methodism 
in this country, and after the model of some of the 
most nsefnl and efficient Methodist preachers. Nay, 
like St. Paul, he could say that he was '' in labors 
more abundant." He performed more work, preach- 
ed more sermons, endured more fatigue and hard- 
ship, with less abatement of mental and physical 
energy than perhaps any other minister of his 
times. Indeed, the steady and glowing flame of his 
zeal- and industry was nev^er quenched until ex- 
tinguished by death. He knew no cessation, nor 
even abridgement of labor, until just three months 
before his departure, and only then when arrested 
by disease. Truly he *' ceased at once to work and 
live." 

He possessed a strong and vigorous mind, which 
generally exhibited itself as well in conversation as 
in his sermons. Had he been favored with a thor- 
ough education, there is reason to believe that he 
would have been surpassed by few. He displayed 
an originality of thought, a sharpness and readiness 
of wit, an aptness of illustration, together with a flow 
of cheerfulness, which made him an interesting and 



382 LIFE OF JACOB GKUBER. 

instructive companion. The vigor of liis mind, 
which seemed to ripen and mature with his 
years, evinced none of that infirmity which was 
stealing upon his body, and displayed no dimi- 
nution of strength up the last hour of his earthly 
existence. 

He was a sound theologian. IS^one will charge 
him with a want of orthodoxy. Thoroughly posted 
up in the doctrines of Methodism from the works 
of "Wesley, and catching the living inspiration from 
the lips of Asbury, "Whatcoat, M'Kendree, and 
others, these doctrines became to him that system 
of divinity most in accordance with the Holy Scrip- 
tures. Nor was he unacquainted with the doctrines 
and usages of other denominations as laid down in 
their books. His sermons gave unmistakable evi- 
dence of this when he felt it to be his duty to come 
in contact with them. As a preacher his pulpit 
discourses were always good, and sometimes almost 
overwhelming. Generally lie took a sound and cor- 
rect view of Scripture, pursued his own course in 
its exposition, and preached with great zeal and 
energy, and often with considerable effect. In ex- 
posing false doctrine and unmasking false religion 
he was quite caustic, and frequently successful. 



LIFE OF JACOB GKUBEll. 383 

But Jacob Gruber is gone, and his voice is 
silent in death. Yet his name and his deeds still 
live. Thousands now living on earth will remem- 
ber him with gratitude, while thousands more have 
already welcomed him to the mansions of rest ; and, 
beyond all doubt, many will rise up in the judgment 
and call him blessed. 

The following lines, in memory of the veteran 
itinerant, were written by Miss Harriet J. Meek, 
of Warrior's Mark, Pennsylvania, and with this 
beautiful tribute we close our sketch of the life 
and labors of this wonderful man : 

Kest from thy labors, rest ' 

Warrior, resign thy trust ! 
The memory of thy name is blest. 

The memory of the just. 
A star is lost below, 

An orb is found above, 
To spread anew the burning glow 

Of everlasting love. 

For threescore years and ten 

He walked the earth till even ; 
For fifty years he offered men 

Salvation, life, and heaven. 
Then to his promised rest 

He turned with faltering tread, 
And found on the Redeemer's breast 

A place to lay his head. 



384 LIFE OF JACOB GRUBER. 

Fallen — at close of day ; 

Fallen — beside his post; 
At sunset came the bright array, 

The chariots and the host. 
With triumph on his tongue, 

"With radiance on his brow. 
He passed with tliat exulting throng, 

And shares their glory now. 

Warrior, thy work is done ! 

Victor, the crown is given ! 
The jubike at last begun, 

The jubilee of heaven. 
Rest from thy labors, rest ! 

Rise to thy triumph, rise ! 
And join the anthems of the blest, 

The Sabbath of the skies. 



THE END. 



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